Town started confidently with Joel Ramm, who was at left-back in place of the injured Dean Craig, passing inside to Nathan Cook who hit a blockbuster of a left-footer crashing against the bar but followed up to hit the ball wide.

Ryhope's first chance came when a cross from the left reached Richard Jordan but his shot went straight at keeper Ricky Ossai.

Wayne Brooksby hit a 25-yarder which skidded just wide of the post but at the other end Ossai had to make a good save from John Bewick.

Town pressed forward again with a mazy run from Brooksby allowing Luke Jenkinson a shot which was blocked and another from the rebound which went wide.

Town had gained the upper hand by now and after 23 minutes a corner from Rose dropped into the goalmouth for Mark Barber to net from six yards out.

Ryhope earned an immediate chance to equalise when Jamie Patterson was dispossessed and Martin Metcalfe went through but his shot bounced away off the right-hand goalpost.

Ryhope were playing some decent football but when Town had the ball the visitors put in some hefty and at times brutal tackles.

Brooksby found space on the left to hit a cross-shot which just skimmed the bar, but after 37 minutes Town went 2-0 up when Ramm received the ball 25 yards out and hit an absolute scorcher which left Ryhope keeper Neil Atkinson helpless.

Josh Greening almost added to the total but his shot was deflected over the bar.

As the second half started, a debatable handball decision against Patterson allowed Dan Smith a free-kick which clipped the outside of the post, but Ryhope got themselves back into the game when a corner was half-cleared and returned into the box for substitute Glen Moan to head home.

Town sub Robbie Hawkes, who had replaced the injured Luke Jenkinson at half-time, was causing problems for the visiors and he centred for Patterson, running in, to volley over the bar.

Disaster struck for Town after 66 minutes when Ryhope's David Newby found space to the right of the penalty area and whipped in a wind-assisted cross which floated into the top corner of the net to make the score 2-2.

Then as Hawkes broke through the Ryhope defence and into the area, a disgraceful tackle took him out of the game and after a lengthy delay he was stretchered off the pitch. Nathan Cook converted the penalty to put Town 3-2 up, but the hosts - having already brought on their third substitute - had to play the final 20 minutes with 10 men.

Further bad challenges meant that at one stage Town were down to eight men, with Barber and Mark Waterfield both on the sidelines receiving treatment.

Just as Town' seemed to have triumphed over adversity, Ryhope striker John Butler turned superbly on the edge of the box and hit a drive which Ossai reached but couldn't keep out.