Sport Thrown away at the death
Kidsgrove Athletic 3
Goole AFC 3
An amazing opening to the season, and one that only the Vikings could feature in, really, as they shared the spoils in a see-saw UniBond League One South clash at Kidsgrove's Stan Brown Stadium on Saturday.
They led twice, hit the crossbar twice and trailed once and it was during the latter period that they received a real going over which can't hide their continued failings at the back, which have to be eradicated as soon as possible.
On the face of it a point away from home is acceptable, but the home side's first equaliser came in the second minute of first-half injury time and they salvaged a point in the 90th minute as Goole looked to be eating into their ten-point deduction immediately.
New signings Nicky Darker and Luke Jeffs made their full debuts, Simon Hainsworth was introduced for a second half debut, and there was a welcome return to UniBond football for Andy Parton alongside Chris Tate up front.
The home side were almost totally changed from last season's outfit, and looked a young, but most willing, set of lads. The pre-match talk from their manager would have been enough to motivate anyone, but for the most part Goole dominated the opening 45 minutes.
With James McDaid looking back to his best in the midfield, Brad Hill combative in the middle and Parton and Tate foraging up front, it seemed only a matter of time before they scored.
A Nigel Danby header hit the bar, Parton shot inches wide and Hill, not for the last time, was inches away from connecting to McDaid's cross.
Yet Kidsgrove, with their first real chance, almost went ahead when Matranga broke through, looking offside, but his shot clipped the bar.
The scare worked a treat, as seconds later Parton showed the predatory instincts of a striker as he latched onto a Chris Tate knock down, and beat the keeper low to his right.
And that looked to be the half-time score until, two minutes into time added, a long ball caused confusion between Danby and Craig Parry, who was in no man's land as Hurst latched on and equalised into an empty net.
That goal, coming as it did, lifted home spirits and for the next twenty-five minutes they pummelled the Vikings' fragile back four.
The speed on both flanks was the key, Goole chasing shadows most of the time, but the only reward for Kidsgrove came when Miller drilled home a low shot on the left which beat Parry at his near post on 55 minutes.
Two substitutions turned the tide again - Karl Rose replaced Tate, and Hainsworth replaced Danby - and four minutes later, on 75 minutes, parity was restored in superb fashion.
Rose's aggression stirred the Vikings to life, ruffled home feathers and when a ball was only partially cleared to McDaid, he returned an unstoppable 25-yard volley into the top left hand corner.
Four minutes later McDaid burst into the area. He was brought crashing down by Elder, and a penalty saw Danny Buttle beat the keeper with ease for 3-2.
Steve Rollinson was on for Parton by this time, and Goole looked to be holding on, if unsteady at times.
That was until 15 seconds into injury time, when they were caught with men unmarked after failing to clear their lines and the cross from the right was joyously headed home by Sanders.
A breathtaking game, really, and an opener to the season to generally lift everyone on a gloomy August afternoon.
However, only the Vikings, it seems, can throw away points late in the day after having worked so hard to put themselves in a winning position.
Published on 21st August 2008 in Sport.
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