Causeway Lane has seen some epic games this season, but the final one was a disappointing, scrappy affair which was decided from the penalty spot.
With eleven minutes left, substitute Dene Cropper had been caught by visiting goalkeeper Richie Whiteside. There was minimal contact but still sufficient to convince Mansfield referee Andy Wood to point to the spot and caution Whiteside. Up stepped fellow substitiute ROSS HANNAH to send Whiteside the wrong way and give the Gladiators another three home points.
Hannah then celebrated with the youngsters he helps to coach in Sheffield who were special guests for the day.
Matlock began with Nathan Benger and Nathan Joynes in attack, with Benger starting in place of Cropper in the solitary change from the starting line up which had beaten title chasing Guiseley in midweek.
Seventh placed Matlock were looking to complete a league double over the struggling Linnets. having won 2-0 in West Lancashire a month earlier.
Warm April sunshine greeted the two teams and this was possibly a factor in why the game was largely devoid of excitement and had that distinct end of season feel to it.
Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested but there was always the feeling that Matlock probably had that extra bit of class, especially when Hannah entered the fray for the second half.
The first half was mainly Matlock on the attack with Benger and Joynes going close but failing to put their efforts on target. Both sides were guilty of surrendering possession cheaply. That magic spark seemed to be missing.
Gary McEvatt looked lively up front for Burscough but lacked support. The visitors looked content to grab a point against one of the form teams in the league and McEvatt was in James Lukic's pocket for much of the contest.
Hannah was looking to repeat the impact he had made against Guiseley but even he was frustrated as one effort swerved off target.
It was Lukic who was nearest to breaking the deadlock midway through the second half as he rose to plant a header which thudded back off the crossbar with Whiteside well beaten.
A scoreless stalemate looked odds on until the penalty, which looked soft, but probably evened out the equally soft one given against Mark haran in the recent 1-0 defeat at Frickley.
Burscough never looked like forcing an equaliser as Matlock comfortably saw out the remaining minutes in which Hannah and Linnets defender Ashton Baykliss were both yellow carded for a confrontation caused by Bayliss' late challenge.
So Matlock have made Causeway Lane something of a fortress with just one league defeat on home soil since mid October. Afterwards players and management did a lap of honour as promised as the home campaign drew to a close.
MATLOCK TOWN: Adam Sollitt, Adam Yates, Scott Brough, Liam King, Mark Haran (Dene Cropper 46), James Lukic, Kristian Witcombe, Steve Warne, Nathan Joynes (Danny Wood 71), Nathan Benger (Ross Hannah 46), Ben Algar. Other subs: Darren Cartwright, Nick Buxton.
REFEREE: A Wood--Mansfield ATTENDANCE: 271 STAR MAN: Adam Yates
