Mousehole (C)Leave Empty Handed.

This game swung on a decision by the officials when the score was one all. It was a sliding doors moment and could affect both teams’ seasons.

A fairly even match had seen Mousehole take the lead in the first half, slightly against the run of play. An error by the home keeper, when a misplaced pass went straight to Torin Ntege, was quickly punished by the young forward as he slammed it back into the net.

One nil up at half time was flattering to the visitors and the home side came out desperate to make amends. Their onslaught lasted twenty five minutes before they finally broke through although Mousehole will be disappointed with how it came. A floated free kick from the right found the head of Cleeve’s centre half and with little resistance he slammed it past Chenoweth.

From there it was a ding dong battle With both sides making chances.

And then it happened. The doors slid.

The ball fell into Ollie challinor’s path on the edge of the box, he controlled it and guided it in to the far inside netting. It went in, bounced out off the wheel stanchion and ran away. The crowd waited for the referee to signal a goal. Both benches waited too, they both saw it go in. They’re still waiting because the referee and his assistants “didn’t see it” go in.

Play went on, sort of, as the Mousehole players hollered their disbelief to no avail. This shock led inevitably to a home goal as the Bishops cleaved an opening. A ball across goal from the right again found a player in space, alone, in splendid isolation. At six foot five it’s amazing no one saw him and thought to mark him and he gratefully plonked the cross home.

And that was how it ended. Another lead dropped, another decision going against the seagulls, another long coach journey home licking wounds.