RAMSBOTTOM United pushed promotion chasers Scarborough Athletic all the way on Saturday before going down 3-2 on the Yorkshire coast.

Grant Spencer's second-minute goal gave the Rams the perfect start and while they conceded an equaliser 60 seconds later before going 2-1 down early in the second half, Ryan Salmon's leveller on the hour looked to have earned them a deserved point.

But an unfortunate mishap by goalkeeper Ashley Shenton opened the door for Carl Stewart to score the winner for the hosts.

For 180 seconds it looked like the Rams were going to pick up exactly where they left off after winning their previous match against Colne.

Gareth Seddon was fouled on the edge of the Scarborough box and Spencer sent his free kick into the top corner with the aid of a slight deflection.

The buoyed Rams player flew straight back into attack from the restart but when the move broke down Benny Iglehon picked up the Borough clearance on the half-way line and ran through before picking his spot to level.

The match quickly calmed down after that breathless opening and while both teams tried to play the ball out from the back but threats on either goal were as rare as donkeys on Bridlington beach.

Jordan Porter in the home nets was occasionally troubled by crosses swerving in the gusty wind while at the other end the nearest Scarborough came was a volley wide by Stewart when well placed at the far post.

The equilibrium lasted just three minutes into the second half.

Cameron Murray side-footed the ball goalwards from the edge of the box following a corner and his effort evaded a number of Rams defenders before Shenton tried to block with his legs rather than use his hands and the ball nestled just inside the side netting.

Undeterred the Rams battled back. Ollie Crankshaw forced his way into the box and found Seddon, who danced round two defenders to send in a low powerful shot that Porter did well to keep out before Salmon thrashed the rebound into the roof of the net.

Shenton's day went from bad to worse with 22 minutes remaining when he spilled a tame shot that Stewart gratefully snaffled.

Scarborough went into their shell, happy to defend their one-goal lead, and while the Rams bravely committed nine players into wave after wave of attacks they could not find a way back into the game.

The result left Rammy 15th in Evo-Stik First Division North, with Prescot Cables to come at home in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy on Saturday.