Ebac Northern League Division Two

Billingham Town 4 Northallerton Town 4

A LATE EQUALISER from substitute Tom Atkinson last Friday evening saw Northallerton Town rescue a point in an eight-goal thriller at Bedford Terrace.

Having led 3-0 inside half an hour thanks to a brace from Martin Butterworth and a strike from Aaron Ramsbottom, Town looked to have thrown it away as Billingham responded either side of the break to lead with a penalty from Callum Brown, an own goal from Kalumn Holbrook and strikes from goal from Danny Wray and Josh Keogh.

But with two minutes remaining, Atkinson fired home the leveller to ensure this thrilling encounter ended with honours even.

There was no sign of the drama to come in a cagey opening twenty minutes but the game began to open up after Butterworth gave Town the lead with a spectacular overhead kick following a Jimmy Muir cross.

It was all Town now as Andy Ramsbottom fizzed a shot narrowly wide of the post before Aaron Ramsbottom and Butterworth were both denied by Billingham goalkeeper Michael Thackeray.

But two goals in two minutes on the half hour put Town in complete control. Aaron Ramsbottom made it 2-0 after a lovely through ball from Josh Knox before Butterworth headed his second from Muir's perfect corner delivery.

But the game turned just before the break when Town defender Craig Perry was harshly penalised for a challenge on Brown inside the penalty area and Brown himself slotted home from the spot.

Billingham were a different side in the second half and it was game on again when Stuart Owen was caught in possession and Holbrook deflected a low cross past his own goalkeeper to make it 3-2.

And the turn around was complete midway through the second half with two goals in quick succession. The equaliser arrived in the 63rd minute when Town failed to clear and corner and Wray applied the finishing touch before Keogh put Billingham in front following more poor Town defending.

But with time running out substitute Atkinson was on hand to fire home the equaliser from another Muir delivery to give Town a fully deserved point.