BROOKS SPOILS BLUES’ DAY OUT
TWO goals in the final half-hour saw Ramsbottom United salvage a 3-3 draw at home to Clitheroe in a spectacular encounter at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium.
The visitors looked good for just their second win of the season as they led Mark Fell’s men 3-1 with 25 minutes left, but two scrambled penalty box goals from Jack Higgs and Tom Brooks spoiled their afternoon to leave them 17th in the Division One West table.
Max Hazeldine had given Stuart Mellish’s side a very early lead as he fired in a near-post header inside two minutes, but Jamie Rother soon equalised for the home side as he beat keeper Cameron Terry with a close-range finish.
It was soon Terry’s turn to become the hero however as the Clitheroe keeper saved a penalty to keep the score at 1-1, and his heroics took on greater importance still when Jay Jeffries restored the visitors’ advantage.
James Sloane then made it 3-1 after half-time as he finished off a wonderful flowing team move, and at that point the Blues seemed set for an impressive victory on the road, but Higgs and Brooks’ late efforts ultimately ensured that that wasn’t the case.
The other six-goal thriller of the day came at Llanelian Road as Kevin Towey scored twice to give Widnes a 4-2 win over Colwyn
Bay, lifting the Whites up to 11th place in the table.
Chris Lomax opened the scoring for the away side after George Webster had released Sean Myler down the wing, but quickfire goals from Josh Brizell and Tom McCready meant they found themselves behind at the half-hour mark.
Towey immediately scored his first of the afternoon to restore parity, however, converting from the penalty spot after midfielder Lass Mendes had brought down Lomax in the penalty area.
George Webster completed the comeback within two minutes of the restart as he finished off a delightful team move, and then Towey grabbed his second to secure Widnes’ second straight win.
Elsewhere, rockbottom Skelmersdale United avoided defeat for just the second time in eight games this season but remain winless after a goalless draw against Newcastle Town.
Both teams had chances to win but both were handicapped by a lack of composure in front of goal, with the best chance of the game falling to the visitors late on as Terry Smith denied namesake Chris from close range.
Robin van der Laan’s side then shaded the second half before substitute Jonny Kapend’s red card forced them to settle for a point, extending their winless run to three games.
Newcastle are now four points adrift of Market Drayton Town in 13th place after Martyn Davies’ men picked up their first away win of the season against a
Chasetown side reduced to ten men.
Desean Martin secured all three points for the Gingerbread Men as he scored twice in the space of a minute during the first half, with the hosts having John Beaumont sent off in the final ten minutes.
The afternoon’s other match saw mutual strugglers Glossop North End and Droylsden draw 1-1 at the Arthur Goldthorpe Stadium, with Bloods debutant Febian Brandy and Darren McKnight scoring to split the points.
Both sides finished the match with ten men as Matty Russell and Luke Daly were both dismissed for two yellow cards late on.