For the second successive game Mossley were the victims of highly contentious refereeing decisions that ultimately cost them points.

On this occasion it was three crucial decisions that went against the Lilywhites in a controversial second half.

Scarborough, buoyed by the midweek appointments of Bryan Hughes and Paul Foot as joint managers and on the back of a five match winning run, treated Mossley to a first half aerial bombardment which the Lilywhites did extremely well to survive.

The home side came closest when Peterson looped an effort against the Mossley bar and Andy Farrimond made a terrific one handed save to deny Bradshaw. At the other end Andy Keogh was a fraction from giving Mossley a shock lead.

Going in goalless at half time was a boost to Mossley and they were more of an attacking force after the break.

Sam Robinson was unlucky not to score when substitute Matty Purcell set him up to fire across the face of goal.

However, the home side took the lead on the hour mark when Gary Bradshaw flicked home a header from James Bennett’s right wing cross.

Minutes later Mossley were reduced to ten men in dubious circumstances. Sam Robinson, in attacking in the front post as the ball was delivered, accidentally clipped a Scarborough defender in front of the ball and was shown a red card by referee Mr Swift.

Undeterred, Mossley attacked again and equalised on 68 minutes. Caldon Henson’s long throw from the right was turned home at the second attempt by the lively Tom Pratt.

Pratt was then soon the victim of a horrendous two footed lunge by Matty Plummer on the half way line. A far worse challenge than Robinson’s and surely a red card offence. However, the referee thought differently and Plummer received only a yellow card. An incident that was to have a direct bearing on the eventual result.

With both sides having half chances to win the game in the remaining minutes the referee signalled to both benches that he would be adding four minutes at the end of the 90.

Time went beyond the four minutes and still Mr Swift didn’t blow for time. In fact it was just short of eight minutes into stoppage time when Scarborough won a right wing corner. A perfect delivery found Plummer at the far post who rose above a sea of bodies to head home the Seadogs late, late winner.

The full time whistle sounded as Mossley restarted play and the Lilywhites staff and players were left to reflect in absolute disbelief at the referee’s bizarre amount of added time and the other decisions that had cost Mossley dearly.

Wiz

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