Ramsbottom United’s FA Vase dream is over for another year after they suffered an extra-time defeat at the hands of local rivals in on exciting but ultimately fruitless afternoon.

It was desperately disappointing for the Rams, who were not helped by the absence of many first choice players, and were further decimated when co-manager Anthony Johnson limped off after just five minutes following a crunching tackle.

Playing the game without strikers John Robinson, who was holiday, and the newly-departed Carl Lomax, as well as missing suspended duo Bernard Morley, Kieron Fletcher and injured captain Lee Connell, the Rams were likely to be up against it.

But when Johnson had to be helped from the field, the balance of the side altered and it showed.

To make matters worse, they then slipped a goal behind after just seven minutes. The reliable John Ogden, in the Rams goal, delayed his clearance and was hastily closed down, resulting in a mistimed kick and Moses Costa Soares pounced and fired in from a tight angle.

In a most entertaining encounter, there were plenty of chances at both ends but neither side was able to capitalise, which kept the 158-strong crowd on the edge of their seats.

Bacup went into the break the happier of the two sides with a one-goal advantage, but this was superbly wiped out when a long ball from Barry Massey found Matt Edgington on the right, and he crossed low and hard for Eddie O’Neill to power home the equaliser.

The end-to-end action continued with the next goal likely to be the winner and, as the game headed into injury time, Massey had a golden opportunity to send Ramsbottom through when he was set-up beautifully. But the veteran striker scuffed his shot with only the Bacup keeper to beat.

With that chance going begging, they lined up for another half hour and it was the visitors who grabbed the initiative.

Some indifferent defending allowed substitute Lee Ellis to loop the ball over the onrushing Ogden just a couple of minutes into the first period of added time.

Then, just a few minutes later, Martin Cosgrave took advantage of more indecision in the back line when he crashed the ball home from close range after finding himself in acres of space on his own. Three goals for Bacup and all three could have been prevented.

The excitement increased when Edgington fired home a beautiful volley from 12 yards to bring the score to 3-2 but, as Rammy pushed for an equaliser and a possible replay, Ellis broke away and claimed the winner.

Rammy’s home game with Squires Gate in the Vodkat North West Counties Premier League was postponed on Tuesday night. They visit Bootle on Saturday.