Troy Perkins' side made the long trip up north still holding onto hopes of a top-six finish, needing to beat Liverpool whilst banking on Huddersfield beating Gateshead.

But after 80 minutes a season of hard work had been undone for the visitors.

Though the other result went their way, Stags were left empty handed at the end of a long season - a seventh place position finish not meriting effort and skill shown by his players over the season according to Perkins.

"Over the season we have probably deserved to make the play-offs," Perkins said. "I don't think we were the seventh best team in the league.

"We have been unlucky at times - close games didn't go our way. But at the end of the day we had 18 games to get a top six spot and we didn't manage that."

Saturday started brightly for Stags. Though the first half was dour to say the least, winger Dave Afreh made his return with the first try of the game, squeezing in at the corner after a brilliant break from Kane Phillips on 20 minutes.

And though Stags had chances to edge further ahead, they didn't take their opportunities and let Buccaneers back into the game - Steve Brown marking his return with a try and Mark Forber kicking his first of eight goals to put the home side 6-4 ahead at the break.

And as the second period got into full swing, a red mist descended on the pitch - within minutes a fracas between Stags' BJ Swindells and an opponent saw both men dismissed, with Swindells suffering a facial injury.

The visitors saw their play-off hopes fade away as Liverpool touched down four times before Stags managed to get any more points on the scoreboard.

Connor Boyd Barnes, at only 16, began a mini-revival when he dotted down shortly afterwards, and was followed by Oli O'Mara and hard working prop Ben Kay who helped reduce arrears to 32–20.

But Liverpool did not fold to the Stags' pressure, and sealed their own place in the play-offs with two superb tries shortly before the final whistle.

It was a performance which disappointed the Stags coach.

"I felt we were the better team for the first half," said Perkins. "But we didn't capitalise on our chances.

"Instead of being two or three tires up at half time we found ourselves two points down and they were better than us in the second half.
"The boys tried hard but concede 38 point in a half of rugby league just isn't acceptable."

With this season over and done with, Perkins is already focusing on rebuilding for next year, admitting he is already looking at new faces to bring in to Pennine Way.

"Now we have a couple of months off, and I have already begun talking to overseas players I'm looking to bring in for next season," he added.

"Our future's looking pretty bright - I have some good youngsters coming through. Hopefully we can do a lot better next season."