Ramsbottom United surrender two-goal cushion in dramatic 4–4 draw against Isle of Man

Ramsbottom United hit back after two early Isle of Man strikes only to let a two goal lead slip late on.

The opening minutes of the encounter at the Douglas Bowl found Rams supporters in fine voice. There in significant numbers they sang, somewhat ironically, about the summertime on sweeping exposed terraces opposite the main stand.

Their team, playing in their usual blue, initially responded but as moves broke down, looked vulnerable to a counter. 

Playing in red, the Isle of Man won a free kick down the right. The ball was whipped in at an angle and met by Crook who headed past Rose for the opening goal which ignited the home supporters.

As the intensity of the rain increased, worse followed.  The Ravens charged down the right and to considerable surprise the flag stayed down. The ball was squared and then fired past Rose for Crook’s second of the evening.

With the game not yet a quarter of an hour old, the travelling Ultras, drenched and cold, questioned the wisdom of enduring airport logistics, flights and accommodation for such a dismal performance.

The next goal would be crucial, but Rams looked a shadow of themselves with misplaced passes and no discernible pattern.  As if things were not bad enough, in the twenty fifth minute a Ravens ball into the box was fired goalwards and produced a dramatic save from Rose. He beat the ball away, but red shirts followed up and it took a header off the goal line to avert the danger.

The let off appeared to jolt the Rams and as they fashioned their first real chance. As a moved down the left on thirty-eight minutes led to Macauley Wilson’s fierce shot being blocked by home keeper Killey, but Luke Sephton was alive to it and nodded the ball past him and into the net to give the visitors a lifeline.

The Rams are in the chasing pack for good reason however, and they finally started to get the passing going and to find pockets of space. They won a corner on their right on forty-four minutes and Maine Walder swung it to the far side of the box.  Lurking was centre back Wilson who took a touch before firing the ball low and hard past Killey for the equaliser.

As the whistle approached there was time for a home free kick to be nodded in. Fortunately for the Rams the flag did go up this time and the effort chalked off.

The second half was as much of a white-knuckle ride as the first.

It all started so brightly, a Rams throw reached the box and was prodded in by Finlay Cross-Adair to open his Rams account and give the visitors a lead.

The action became more end to end as Rose dealt with a vicious low shot on fifty-one minutes and then a free kick as the game unfolded.

On sixty-seven minutes a Rams moved reached Luke Sephton on the edge of the box. He controlled the ball before firing it low and hard past Killey to put the Rams four-two ahead and give them, in theory at least, a match winning platform.

The advantage proved illusory as slack defending once more allowed the hosts to break down the left where a cross to the near post was skilfully headed past Rose for their third.

The Rams retreated into their shell as they attempted to manage out the closing twenty minutes. Something they have conspicuously failed to do this season as the muted Ultras nerves began to shred.

As injury time went on – and on – came the customary sting in the tail. A corner was driven into the six yead box and headed past Rose. Although cleared off the line the goal was given and home fans erupted.  Four-four and the home team celebrating as if in victory as the game eventually ended in what felt like a Rams defeat.

Contentious decisions, yes, but the harsh truth is that as against Irlam and Longridge Ramsbottom United contrived to squander winning positions. More dispiriting still for supporters is that results elsewhere opened an opportunity to make up ground.

Successful teams invariably are built around solidity at the back and Rams need to address their porous defence – and quicky or any hopes of progressing out of the division will otherwise prove delusional.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Wallbank (Hayhurst), Walder, McCann, Barlow, Wilson, Baker, Walker, Sephton, Holland-Wilkinson (Bennett), Cross-Adair (Whittingham)   Not Used: Cummings, Stacey

GOALS: Luke Sephton (38, 67), Macauley Wilson (44), Finlay Cross-Adair (47); Jacob Crook (9, 12), Charlie Higgins (70), Adam Killey (90+5)

ATT: 623