Dunston come out on top in 5 goal thriller at The UTS Stadium.

Dunston claimed an important 3 points, down in part to a brace from Scott Heslop, which lifts Chris Swailes’ side up one place to 14th in the table.

“Rammy” made the long midweek trip up to Tyneside  and were on an outstanding run of form, unbeaten in their last 12 League games and knowing that a victory would move them ahead of League leaders Workington.

With the home side trailing 1-2 at half time, and with very little between them, the game fully sprang into action in the final 20 minutes and the score line could have easily have been very different in what was a tightly contested affair. Dunston were the better side in the 2nd half but had the heroics of Keeper Niall Harrison to thank at the end of the game.

Dunston started brightly, Heslop had a good chance to open the scoring, from a driving run Liam Brooks squared the ball into the box, only for the ball to get caught under the forwards feet in the 6 yard box.

Heslop went agonisingly close with a volley from distance moments later. Luke Page caught the Ramsbottom defence off guard and played a superb pass to Heslop who had found space in behind and with the keeper off his line, he fired his volley just over.

Despite Dunston’s early chances, it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 14 minutes, going straight up the other end, and despite Ursene Mouanda trying his level best to clear the ball off the line, Nik Evangelinos prodded home from close range following a scramble in the box.

Dunston were level 6 minutes later. A Michael Pearson corner pinged around the box as Ramsbottom struggled to remove the danger, Heslop reacted to knock the ball in from close range.

Ramsbottom took the lead on 32 minutes, with Evangelinos punishing Dunston’s inability to clear the ball, he turned in a six pence to fire an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Dunston went into half time trailing and had Keeper Niall Harrison to thank, reacting magnificently to palm away a header from Iyrwah Gooden.

From this point in the game Dunston stepped up their game and began to pressurise Ramsbottom. This paid off on 61 minutes as Liam Brooks levelled. Mouanda played a dangerous ball into box which Rammy keeper Tom Stewart struggled to collect, with the keeper out of position Heslop picked at scraps to take advantage, with the ball bobbling about Pearson was unable to get his volley off but the ball fell to Brooks who made no mistake from close range.

Heslop ( pictured celebrating above) extended Dunston’s lead 13 minutes later, with the hosts forcing a throw-in deep into their opponents half, a poor clearance fell to Micheal Hall who played a sumptuous ball through a gap in the defence to pick out Heslop, running in behind, he stretched to prod his shot past the outrushing keeper as Dunston completed their turn around.

The hosts had their chances to put the game beyond doubt in the final phase of the game. Carving out 4 good chances, however Ramsbottom could have come away with a point in the last minutes had it have not been for the confidence,  composure and quick reactions of keeper Niall Harrison,  saving at point blank range and then went on to command control of the ball as Rammy threw everything into the box in injury time.

The result now sees Swaz’s men collect 9 points from a possible 12 as they take this form into Saturdays home game at The UTS Stadium against 7th place Clitheroe.

Speaking to Assistant Manager Chris Errington after the game “We deserved that win today” “They’d possibly come into this one thinking it would be easy, but we proved at home that we’re a hard side to beat” “Our work rate was excellent and we’ve gone up against some top sides in the league recently and we’re starting to show what we’re about”.

Dunston UTS FC Supporters Club Man of the match awarded to: Scott Heslop.

Scott Heslop is proudly sponsored by:

Home kit - Mr Ian McPherson.

Away kit -

Recovery kit - Riley Davison.

Match kindly sponsored by: Spark Health and Fitness.