Ramsbottom United are shocked by lowly Litherland REMYCA

The home side had opened the title race by defeating rivals Wythenshawe in midweek and five straight wins also gave room for optimism for the Rams ultras.

An open pitch and swirling wind saw the ball constantly out of play and endless stoppages - augmented by home players going to ground. As a result, the game never developed beyond a turgid stop-start encounter.

On 13 minutes, red and white striped shirts broke forwards before releasing Alfie Walker on the right. With the Rams defence appealing for offside, the flag stayed down and he calmly lifted the ball over Rose to give the home side the lead.

It was a blow for the visitors, but also a chance to test their resilience and the ultras did not have long to wait for the response. Harvey Hayhurst, in a rich vein of form right now, read a deep cross on the edge of the left side of the box before crashing a volley which flew in to bulge the net for a dramatic equaliser.

The Rams could not build, however, and the home side nearly retook the lead on the half hour when a header which looked certain to end up in the far corner before drifting wide.

With the ball bouncing around without being controlled, the Rams’ midfield failed to impose themselves with hurried passing and choosing the wrong options as the receivers stretched or were left with too much do to do.

The game, unwatchable at times. saw the teams level at the break - but news filtered through Wythenshawe were 3-0 ahead away from home and were in the process of opening a decisive gap with only four games remaining.

The game resumed to the same attrition pattern. No Ram was able to take control and get the ball to feet, the nearest they came to taking the lead came around the hour mark when the mobile Braganca fired in a rather speculative cross-shot which rebounded out from the bar.

Worse was to follow. A home corner was not cleared and, with Rams’ central defence in disarray, dinked back into the box and eventually stabbed past Rose by Harry Middlehurst to give the home side the lead - and energise the sparse home crowd.

Rams responded, with new signing Daniel Forbes coming on and establishing an imposing presence.

Chasing the game, Rams started to play football, With the clock ticking a storming run by Forbes led to a fierce low drive which Filandros was only able to parry. Running in from deep, Jacob Holland-Wilkinson took a touch, rounded the keeper and planted the ball in the net for the ‘equaliser’.

However, the assistant’s flag - which stayed down in the first half -went up much to the incredulity of the travelling fans. It was a moment which summed up the whole experience, as the goal was chalked off.

As stoppage time loomed, Brad Rose delivered a free-kick with the home half as Rams tried to rescue the game, with the resulting goalbound effort from Dudley hooked off the line as the increasingly jubilant home fans cheered every stroke of fortune.

Eventually the whistle went and the Rams trudged off with both sets of supporters knowing how important the result might be at the end of the season.

Although a pale shadow of the team which has revived the title race in recent weeks, the least the Rams deserved was a draw.

With 90 points on the board, boss Steve Wilkes has built a fine side, one which will doubtless fight to the end as they go again at home on Monday. There may yet be twists and turns, but it was the home side celebrating thoughts of an unlikely escape as the Rams again face a play-off lottery.