Killey rescues Ravens in wild Ramsbottom United draw

Goalkeeper nets in stoppage time in eight-goal epic

FC Isle of Man goalkeeper, Adam Killey scored a dramatic header deep into second-half stoppage time in a pulsating 4-4 draw with Ramsbottom United in the NWCFL Premier Division this evening (31 January).

The Manx side got two goals in three minutes through Jacob Crook early on before Ramsbottom United strikes from Luke Sephton and Macauley Wilson got the visitors level in the first half.

A Finlay Cross-Adair goal and a second finish from Sephton put the away side 4-2 up in the second period before a Charlie Higgins header pulled one back for 'The Ravens' with just over 20 minutes left.

A thrilling contest came to a dramatic conclusion in the 94th minute when Killey netted a last, late equaliser, with his header adjudged to have crossed the line after being initially blocked.

Heading into this evening's meeting at The Bowl, FC Isle of Man were hoping to bounce back from a midweek defeat against a Ramsbottom United side which had a chance to go second in the table.

A fast-paced start to proceedings saw FC Isle of Man break the deadlock on nine minutes with a Ste Whitley cross from the right meeting Crook at the back post who glanced a header into the bottom corner.

Three minutes later, Crook was on target again - eventually tapping into an empty net after Dean Pinnington had drawn out Ramsbottom United stopper, Bradley Rose to the edge of his penalty area.

Despite a good start for the hosts, the momentum began to shift as the half wore on, and Ramsbottom United pulled one back on 38 minutes.

A Macauley Wilson strike from the edge of the box was parried by Killey into the path of Sephton who calmly side-footed the rebound into the roof of the net.

Sensing a change in fortunes, Ramsbottom United pushed further towards the break and got an equaliser on 44 minutes - FC Isle of Man failed to deal with a corner with a loose ball falling to Wilson who fired a shot through several players and into the net at the near post for 2-2.

Having clawed themselves level in the first 45, Ramsbottom United made a blistering start to the second when a long throw from the right resulted in a scramble in the FC Isle of Man penalty area and Cross-Adair reacted quickest with a deflected shot towards goal finding the net within two minutes of the restart.

Heading towards the final 20 minutes, FC Isle of Man spurned a host of chances, only to be punished again in the 67th minute.

Ramsbottom United worked the ball from right to left on the edge of the FC Isle of Man penalty area which culminated in Sephton working some space from a tight angle around 12 yards out and sending a low strike across Killey into the bottom corner.

Having gone from a two-goal lead to two-goal deficit to this point, FC Isle of Man responded almost instantly on 69 minutes when Whitley on the left flank whipped in a cross to find Higgins who - from around six yards - arrowed his header past Rose into the top corner to breathe life back into the Islanders.

As the match headed into second-half stoppage time, FC Isle of Man began to pile bodies forward in search of late point, and they managed just that in the most dramatic of circumstances.

In the fourth minute of time added on, a corner from the left was met by the head of goalkeeper, Killey whose effort soared towards goal and was blocked by Ramsbottom United substitute, Aaron Bennett, with the referee, Ciaran Williams ruling the ball had crossed the line first, sparking wild home celebrations and act as the last whirlwind statement of a truly gripping contest.

FC Isle of Man's next match will be at home against Euxton Villa on Saturday, 7 February, kicking-off at 6pm - Manx Radio will be providing full live match commentary on our AM1368 channel.