RYCOB struck a dramatic 89th minute equaliser against Ramsey at Ballacloan on Saturday afternoon to claim what could prove to be a vital point in their bid for Canada Life Premier League survival.
Jamie Brew was the hero for Youthie as he netted a second half brace for his side who twice recovered from a two-goal deficit to claim a share of the spoils with Ramsey who ended the game with 10 men after John Roberts was sent off late on.
As well as boosting Youthie’s survival hopes, the result also means Ramsey remain perilously close to the drop zone with two thirds of the season gone. The hosts almost got off to the perfect start when a low free-kick deflected into the path of Matthew Montgomery inside the box but the midfielder’s fierce, angled drive was well repelled by visiting shot-stopper Stuart Fayle and the danger passed.
The latter was on hand to deny Montgomery again soon after but there was no such let off for the Schoil ree Gorree side in the 12th minute when Chris Duggan was fouled on the edge of the area by George Rawlinson. Up stepped island cap Kris Halsall to curl an effort around the wall and into the bottom left corner to open the scoring.
Youthie nearly hit back five minutes later when Shaun Kelly’s cross almost deceived everyone but hit the top of Andy Perry’s crossbar, but they were very nearly punished less than 60 seconds later after Duggan’s low cross reached Halsall but his effort flew into the side netting.
Visiting skipper Tony Corlett came close to restoring parity soon after when he tried his luck from distance but Perry was able to scramble across his goal line to divert the danger.
The hosts doubled their advantage just shy of the half-hour mark thanks to some neat play after Duggan latched onto a long ball down field before deftly passing the ball behind the Youthie defence for Montgomery to chase and the midfielder beat Fayle to the ball to poke home and give his side a 2-0 half-time lead.
After the restart Halsall almost netted again in similar circumstances to his first but this time Fayle was able to parry his free-kick wide. The visitors then wasted a golden chance to get back into the match when Steven Jordan’s superb cross was met by substitute Daniel Sherry but he couldn’t guide his header on target from close range.
However, the visitors clawed their way back into the contest in the 59th minute when Kelly’s long throw-in from the left allowed Daniel Tate to bundle the ball home in a crowded six-yard box.
Ramsey very nearly restored their tw-goal advantage immediately after the restart when Fernandes flicked the ball on to Duggan who forced a fine save from Fayle before Lewis Qualtrough fired home the rebound, but his celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag for offside.
Qualtrough was then called into action at the other end of the pitch when another long Kelly throw caused the home defence problems, but Montgomery’s effort from outside the box was blocked well by the centre-back and Perry was able to smother the danger.
With 18 minutes remaining the hosts made it 3-1 when Duggan’s low cross was turned home on the slide by substitute Liam Parker from close range only seconds after entering the fray. But the deficit was cut again less than three minutes later as Brew hauled his side back into the game. A weak header from Arneil back to his goalkeeper allowed former Ramsey striker Jason Craine to put Perry under pressure and Brew took advantage to slot home, despite the best efforts of Qualtrough on the line.
Then, with 10 minutes left, the game’s main talking point arrived. Sherry’s goal-bound header was handled on the line by Roberts and a penalty was awarded to hand the visitors a lifeline. Roberts then made matters worse by remonstrating with assistant referee Huw Matthews and was subsequently given his marching orders for using foul and abusive language.
However, the hosts were given a reprieve when Perry guessed the right way and was able to keep out Kelly’s low spot kick.
But, just when it looked like Ramsey had done enough to secure all three points, Youthie struck a minute from time. Brew received the ball inside the box, sent a defender the wrong way before curling a shot at goal which squirmed through Perry’s grasp and trickled over the line for 3-3 to give RYCOB a valuable point.
TEAM CHECK
Ramsey: Andy Perry, Robbie Collister, Jamie Arneil, Lewis Qualtrough, John Roberts, Robbie Campbell, Jabrane Moutiq (Liam Parker 67m), Matthew Montgomery, Michael Fernandes, Chris Duggan (Harry Weatherill 82m), Kris Halsall. Sub not used: Barry Gaffney
RYCOB: Stuart Fayle, Daniel Tate, Oliver Blacker, George Rawlinson, Andrew Walton, Matt Boyde (Daniel Sherry 45m), Tony Corlett (c) (Martyn Murphy 64m), Ste Jordan, Shaun Kelly, Jason Craine, Jamie Brew. Sub not used: Kris Murdoch
Referee: Alan Cowin
Assistants: Huw Matthews and Kevin Giles
Sent off: Roberts (Ramsey)
Man of the Match: Brew - impressive second half showing galvanised Youthie into earning a point
Match rating: HHHHI