Ramsbottom United 3 Silsden 4

5:08pm Wednesday 19th November 2008

THE Rams must still be wondering how they managed to lose a game in which, at half-time, they appeared to have an unassailable lead.

They led as early as the fourth minute when top scorer Andy Sensale got the final touch to Jon Stevenson’s shot, and when Stevenson doubled their lead nine minutes later, they looked set fair for a high-scoring victory.

Despite occasional attacks at the other end, it was the Rams who looked the more dangerous in the first 45 minutes and, after a couple of close calls, Mark Westhead got the third from close range from a John Blackley free-kick.

But Silsden came out fired up for the second half and, within 60 seconds Bland headed home from a left-wing free kick.

The onslaught continued as the Rams defence seemed shell-shocked by the turnaround and Hollingdrake powered his way to a second.

The visitors finally drew level 10 minutes from time when Airey’s cross into the area somehow found its way into the net.

Rams would have settled for a point at that stage but they were under even more pressure four minutes later when Blackley was sent off for a second yellow card and there was a certain inevitability about it when King scored the goal of the game to win it at the death.