The governing body’s decision to extend the end of the National One season gave Ian Smith’s men both the time and space to pay due care and attention to each of their seven remaining fixtures.

As a result, they coasted to their highest league finish for nearly a decade and went into the National Trophy final against Leeds well-grooved but fresh and having attended to every last detail in their homework.

It could be argued that they’d have done that anyway, but it wouldn’t be an especially convincing case, at least not as compelling as the one put before the game’s top arbitrators that Tuesday evening.

Would the Red and Blacks have enveloped the league champions with such vigour and enthusiasm had it been their fifth match in 15 days? I suggest not.

Would they have been in any sort of condition to win vital First Division encounters with Manchester and Plymouth Albion under such circumstances? Probably, but possibly not.

Make no mistake, without the events of March 31, April 18 might not have been such a happy day.

Certainly Ian Smith recognises the impact it had on their run-in. “Thankfully common sense prevailed,” the head coach said. “It would have been difficult to have played those games in that short period for a full-time team. For a part-time side it would have been outrageous.

“What the appeal did was put our destiny in our own hands. Had we not had that it would have been very tough.”

But it should also be noted Smith had his team moving in an upwardly mobile direction anyway. Two years ago they would not have even been able to consider beating the champions and the runners-up, even with a year’s rest.

And what of those hapless runners-up? Had Exeter’s Chiefs put up as much fight when they visited Billesley Common as their outstanding supporters, the outcome might have been different.

As it was they were taken aback by the ferocity of the Moseley pack, the cutting edge of their threequarters and the fanatical dedication of the home defence.

What resulted was an upset of seismic proportions made all the more important by the fact that both league points and a cup final berth were on the line.

The losing coach paid for his miscalculation with his job, while the winning one enjoyed the passage to the highest stage of all.

The manner of their victory was one Moseley repeated several times over the final few weeks.

It also provided proof, only hinted at earlier in the campaign, that this was a side capable of living with the division’s big hitters.

In the first half of the season, winning positions were created and squandered against London Welsh, Nottingham, Cornish Pirates and Bedford.

Now safety has been assured, those results can be looked at as a sign of progress, rather than a dangerous tendency to end games short-changed.

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