Mossley needed maximum points from their final League game of the season in order to take 6th place in the table and thus qualify for the promotion play-offs.
Unfortunately the Lilywhites opponents were champions elect North Ferriby United who arrived for their first ever visit to Seel Park seeking the point they needed to secure the title and automatic promotion. That they achieved their aim was the result of two extraordinary refereeing decisions, Ferriby leading scorer Gary Bradshaw's clinical finishing and Mossley's inability to capitalise on their own few clear chances.
The game was stretched from very early with both sides going all out to secure the required points. It was the visitors however, who took a contentious 15th minute lead. As the ball was crossed into the Mossley box Bradshaw clearly pushed Paul Challinor under the ball and then handled as the ball dropped before firing past the stranded Lee Bracey.
Rough justice on the home side who then forced the pace for the remainder of the half.
Melford Knight spurned a great chance to bring Mossley level firing over from a great position while Chris Downey, Leon Mike and Josh Howard all found the safe hands of Ferriby keeper Paul Sharp.
Mossley finally got the equaliser their pressure deserved just a minute before the break. Steve Sheil headed down to Downey who instinctively back heeled the ball which rebounded at an angle off the post for Rhodri Giggs to fire home.
It could have been the catalist for Mossley to take control in the second half but it never materialised.
Leon Mike fired a header off the bar from Morning's left wing cross but he left the field a few minutes later with a knee injury and Mossley were held by a solid Ferriby defence and a linesman intent on flagging offside every time the Lilywhites attacked. On the one instance that Mossley did break through again they found themselves inadvertantly setting up the soon to be crowned champions winning goal.
Rhodri Giggs chased a lost cause into the corner, shook himself free of a poor challenge on the dead ball line and was just about to pull the ball back for a shot when the referee interceded and awarded Mossley a free kick on the dead-ball line inches outside the box. Rough justice indeed, especially so as Morning's free kick was cleared quickly and Fothergill fed Bradshaw in a suspiciously off-side position and the 38 goal hit man made it 39 after out-pacing Andy Thackery.
Ferriby held the ball in the corner in the dying moments and Melford Knight's frustration boiled over and he was given a quick double yellow card followed by the inevitable red by the referee to rub salt in Mossley's wounds.