KIRKBYMOORSIDE will hope a remarkable comeback at home to Cleator Moor Celtic will kick-start their season in the Wearside League.

The struggling Moorsiders trailed 3- 0 at half-time and fell four behind two minutes into the second period but they somehow defied all expectations by fighting back to hit four goals of their own and steal a point.

Sarjo Cham blasted home from near the penalty spot after Celtic ’keeper Craig Rule flapped at a corner to get the leveller at the death.

The first half-hour had been even, with both sides wasting a few decent chances.

For Kirkby, Rob McDermid played in Liam Cooper but his first touch was too strong as he tried to go around Rule, while Ryan Rivis saw an effort go just wide and Niall Gibb had a header turned over the bar. At the other end, stand-in Kirkby ’keeper Aaron Rivis made routine saves from Michael Dickinson, Ryan Hall and Glynn Edwards, while Dickinson wasted the best chance when firing wide when through on the right.

However, Cleator Moor took the lead after 30 minutes when Edwards latched onto a through ball with the Moorsiders appealing in vain for offside.

And they added two more goals before halftime – Hall beating two defenders on the edge of the box and hitting powerfully home, and Dan McDermott netting with a free header from six yards out.

It could have been worse as Rivis had to deny Edwards, while Dickinson and Darren Johnson both fired wide when well placed, but the visitors did score again two minutes into the second period with a fine 25- yarder from Craig Padley.

A hammering was on the cards but the Moorsiders knuckled down and Gibb’s last contribution before going off injured was to volley home a deep Rob McDermid cross after 50 minutes.

Player-boss Alex Strickland, the man of the match, fired just too high from 25 yards as the fightback continued, although Dickinson went close at the other end after a quick counter attack.

On 59 minutes, Karl Richardson pulled another goal back with a spectacular dipping effort from 25 yards at the end of a fine passing move.

Rivis had to produce a fine save to deny Celtic player-manager Matt Henney and Edwards headed wide, but the Moorsiders were right back in it when a sliced McDermid cross caught out Rule in the visitors’ goal and went in off the far post after 70 minutes.

Cleator kept three men up front while Kirkby pushed Richardson on whenever possible, the game thus becoming stretched.

Cleator missed chances, Edwards being off-target and Rivis making two good saves from Dickinson.

But Kirkby, pushing forward in search of the equaliser, saw penalty appeals waved away when McDermid went down, before the same player won the 89th-minute corner that reaped the equaliser.

Jordan Rivis’ flag-kick was curling under the bar and Rule could only flap at it under pressure. The ball fell for Cham to hammer it home.