Whitehaven went down 2-0 at West Lancashire leaders Burscough Richmond.
But it represented a great effort by the West Cumbrians against a side who had won all their home games.
The fact that they beat Whitehaven in their final home game meant they had completed the campaign with a perfect record on their own pitch.
Whitehaven travelled with a depleted squad after they weren’t even certain to be able to field enough players a few days beforehand.
In the end four players were handed their debuts and the team was the youngest Whitehaven had put out all season.
The first half passed without any real incident as Burscough struggled to create any chances against a determined Whitehaven side.
In the second half Whitehaven were awarded a penalty when Calvin Fearon was brought down by a reckless challenge.
Unfortunately for Haven, Car Denver’s spot kick was saved by the home keeper Matthew Russell.
The League leaders continued to struggle in front of goal until two late successful strikes by Raj Singh-Uppal, one from the penalty spot, earned Burscough the win – completing a 15 from 15 record. They maintained their four-point advantage at the top.
Whitehaven’s assistant manager Chris Rourke said: “The lads were fantastic. Form said this was the hardest place to go to but we never gave them an inch.
“If the penalty had gone in you never know what might have happened.
“But we’ve got to look at all then positives. Losing to the team that will probably win the league, with a very inexperienced side, through a penalty and a goal off a long throw was encouraging and there’s no shame in that.”
Whitehaven’s season comes to an end this weekend at home to Poulton on Saturday and away to Slyne with Hest on Monday.
