THREE goals in the last four minutes earned Billinge a draw at top-of-the-table Middlewich Town on Saturday.

In an extraordinary game The Storks came back from 3-0 down to get a deserved point in a 3-3 draw.

Although they were losing by three goals it never felt that Billinge were out of the game as they dominated possession for large portions of the game.

Add in the fact that the Billinge management, players and travelling support felt all three of Town’s goals should not have stood meant that there was a sense of justice on the final whistle.

Although the Billinge staff are reasonably happy about how the season has started they are concerned that the players have been slow out of the blocks in all the games they have played and this was the case again as The Witches went ahead on eight minutes.

Billinge were pressing when the attack was broken up with what appeared to be a hand ball by a Middlewich player.

The home side immediately attacked - from deep - sending a long ball into the path of big striker Rory Gordon who beat the onrushing Storks keeper Tom Darbyshire to put Town one-up.

The remainder of the half turned into a midfield contest with chances few and far between.

On 13 minutes Phil Dearden had a shot saved after great work in midfield by debutant Neil Monoghan and Dean Curtis.

Billinge - who are already struggling with injuries early in the season - were dealt another blow on 20 minutes when full-back Ryan McCabe had to leave the pitch with a groin injury to be replaced by substitute Terry Keenan.

With a reshuffle needed, Keenan fitted in well and had a great shot well-saved in the last action of the first half.

The second period saw the game open up as Darbyshire had to be sharp on a couple of occasions while up the other end Dearden shot just wide after superb build up play.

With Billinge taking the game to The Witches they were dealt a major blow in the 56th minute when Ryan Platt was harshly penalised by the corner flag for what appeared a perfect tackle.

With the Billinge players adamant it was no foul they lost concentration and from the resultant free kick left Dean Burgess unmarked to head home and double the home side’s advantage.

The Storks reacted by throwing on a second striker - giving Brett Adamson his debut - as they looked to get back into the game.

The response was almost immediate as Keenan shot just over the bar on 61 minutes.

However 10 minutes later Middlewich were 3-0 ahead.

Another long ball found Gordon in space and this time he tried to take the ball around Derbyshire but hit it too far and then appeared to dive over the oncoming keeper.

To the astonishment of the Billinge defenders referee Ben Lever pointed to the spot from which Burgess duly obliged to make the make the margin three goals and leaving Billinge’s task appear insurmountable.

The Storks introduced a third debutant in Harry Caton and his presence and skill appeared to galvanise the side as the team took complete control of the midfield.

On 83 minutes Dearden had a shot from 25 yards well-saved but three minutes later he had his goal as Keenan threaded a super ball through for him to crash the ball home from 18 yards.

A minute later good work in midfield led to the makeshift centre-half Curtis playing another cutting ball through for man-of-the-match Dearden to finish brilliantly and get his and Billinge’s second.

The Storks were now looking for an equaliser and in the 89th minute captain Chris Cottington - who possesses a marvellous long pass - took a goal kick and somehow found the Adamson who shrugged off his defender and finished superbly to give Billinge a share of the points.

The draw takes Billinge up into fourth place with 10 points from five games and just two points behind new League leaders Egerton.

After the game Storks boss Matt Potter was pleased with the comeback saying, “We all felt we didn’t deserve to be three behind but that’s football and great credit to the lads who never gave up.

“There is a lot to work on but if we bring that attitude - and continue in the vein with which we finished the game - into our next match we will be okay.”

Billinge now have two home games as they face Greenalls PSO on Tuesday (21 August)in a 6.30pm kick-off before Denton Town visit Barrows Farm on Saturday in a 3pm start.