Every now and then you come away from a game scratching your head and wondering what you’ve just witnessed, and this was one of those occasions.
For 55-60 minutes, Frickley Athletic dominated this Yorkshire Derby and were by far the better team.
They’d opened up a two-goal cushion thanks to James Matthews' early opener being added to by Brad Wells just after half-time, Ossett were down to 10 men and they looked comfortable - so much so they could have even gone 3-0 up when Bobby Faulkner rattled the post from only a couple of yards out amidst a goalmouth scramble.
An away win seemed inevitable but then came the collapse as Ossett pulled one back just before the hour mark, then quickly equalised, before adding two more goals during the latter stages to completely turn the game on its head and pick up three valuable points!
Apple Crumble, indeed, and a definite 'What The F**k' scenario which will take some figuring out.
It's made even stranger given just how well Frickley played in the first hour or so.
Several places higher and a dozen points better off in the league, on home soil, and with quite a few decent players in their starting xi, it's fair to say that Ossett were the pre-match favourites although you wouldn't have been able to guess.
The hosts started well and created the first opening when Ify Ofoegbu had an effort saved and Charlie Wood (on loan from Bradford City) fired over on the follow-up, but Frickley then went down the other end and opened the scoring with Jimmy Matthews grabbing the goal.
Frickley, wearing green, then properly took charge and had a sustained spell of pressure. Arun Jones was exceptional and wreaked havoc with his long-throws - hurling in four or five in torpedo-like style. Some were dealt with more convincingly than others but Frickley were always first to the 'second balls' after the initial throw which meant Ossett were often penned in.
A couple of chances, unsurprisingly, went the visitors way with Nathan Whitehead firing over and Brad Wells heading narrowly wide and when Ossett had sporadic attacks at the other end, a combination of blocks (one especially from Bobby Faulkner), perfectly timed tackles (including two by Jones) and Ofoegbu heading just over and then later curling a shot high over the stand into Ossett Bus Station meant it was still 1-0 at the interval.
The other big moment in the opening 45 minutes came shortly before half-time when, during the third wave of play after one of Jones' long-throws, George Green went in with a late and untidy tackle on Michael Hollingsworth which forced the Frickley player off injured. Green was only yellow carded, it could have been more, and he was replaced at half-time anyway.
Ossett were reduced to 10 men only a few minutes into the second half when Aaron Haswell was dismissed and that inspired Frickley, who were still on top, to quickly go and double their lead with Wells planting his head firmly to Joe West's cross and guide the ball past the home 'keeper.
Two could have then become three as a goalmouth scramble occured following a quickly-taken throw, which culminated in Bobby Faulkner somehow striking the inside of the post from just a couple of yards out before the hosts scrambled it away to safety.
Then came the captiluation!
In fairness, Wood was decent for Ossett and having done well to get into a shooting position, his effort looked as if it was going in anyway before Ofoegbu made sure by putting it in anyway. Any 'goal bonuses' in this scenario definitely ought to be shared.
Five minutes later, it was 2-2. A corner was whipped in towards the near-post and some very static defending coupled with a deft flick by Oliver Metcalfe, resulted in the header going across goal and nestling in the bottom corner.
Frickley weren't quite done though. Even in the short period when they were 2-1 up, Josh Scott had gone close with a header and on level terms they probed and pressed and came agonisingly close to re-establishing a lead on 70 minutes when Nathan Perks' backheel effort was cleared on the line.
However, the momentum and initiative by this point was with Ossett. You could almost sense what was coming and backed by some lively locals, they were enjoying more possession, looking more threatening and more dangerous. Ultimately, they completed the turnaround on 82 minutes when Frickley couldn't clear their lines whatsoever and a loose ball bobbled about in the penalty area before it was smashed home by James Walshaw.
The scenes at this point was either pure joy or pure disbelief, depending on which team you supported, and although Ossett probably isn't known for gloss, they added some to the scoreline a couple of minutes later as Walshaw curled the ball home from a free-kick.
4-2 and 'Goodnight Vienna' for Frickley!
Overall, although the visitors only had themselves to blame for what unfolded in the last half-hour, Ossett were good during that period and Charlie Wood put in a great shift - causing a lot of problems and being deserving of the MOTM award he received from the home fans. He earned it because Ossett had other chances to score as many as six or seven goals in that time.
The goals were still all preventable though. Frickley just switched off, stopped defending crosses and doing precisely what they'd done when they were 2-0 up and cruising. It was bizarre as everything leading up to Ossett's opening goal had been spot on.
They can still take the positives from their performance (up to the hour) but they should have picked up points; there's no two ways about it, and with plenty of twists and turns still to come in their efforts to avoid finishing in a relegation position, God only knows how crucial this capitulation might prove to be.
Fair play to both teams though on a decent afternoon and for Ossett United on providing the best food I've had at a football ground this season. Crispy chips, mushy peas, a steak pie and gravy (complimented by some lashings of mint sauce - can't beat that) at £4.20 does nothing whatsoever to help my waistline but it was superb and the best I've had anywhere for ages!
