Dramatic finale: John Cyrus was the hero for Shaw Lane Aquaforce in their 1-1 draw with Cleethorpes Town
Defender John Cyrus was the hero for promotion-chasing Shaw Lane Aquaforce as his last gasp header rescued a vital point in the Toolstation NCEL Division One top of the table clash with ten man Cleethorpes Town, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Two minutes into second half injury-time, Cyrus rose to score past the magnificent Cleethorpes goalkeeper Miles Fenty who had the game of his life and had denied Shaw Lane countless times.
Despite all Shaw Lane’s chances, Cleethorpes led due to Chris Funnell’s goal on the hour. Cleethorpes also had Darren Hanslip sent off for a second bookable offence late on.
The dramatic finish was made sweeter for Shaw Lane by the news that Bottesford Town had lost 4-3 at Selby Town.
That result ensures that Aquaforce still have their destiny in their own hands so manager Craig Elliott was content with the outcome.
“It is a good result now that Bottesford have lost,” he said.
“The first thing I look at is the performance and I think we played really well and I couldn’t believe we were losing 1-0. Their ‘keeper had such an unbelievable match and he definitely had a man of the match performance.
“He made five or six top saves and two of them were as good as I’ve seen this season.
“We have been striving to get good performances and we have done it today and the result hasn’t gone for us. It feels like it is a win because of how late the goal was.
“We deserved something and even their manager has acknowledged that we deserved to win the match. From the first minute we were the team that wanted to win the game. I’m just chuffed to get something.
“I didn’t think it would come. Two or three minutes from the end, Frosty hit the crossbar and we had a shot blocked by our own player and then (Shane) Kelsey missed an easy tap-in.
“I thought that was it, but luckily we got it. I must also say that it was a good atmosphere and it was nice to see them bring a few fans. These are the type of games you like to be involved in.”
Cleethorpes Town goalkeeper Miles Fenty had the game of his life
Shaw Lane remain in third, a point behind Bottesford and three of Cleethorpes, but with a game in hand on the latter which could send them top on Tuesday.
After losing to Worsbrough Bridge on Tuesday night, Shaw Lane were the team under the most pressure going into the match and Elliott’s men really took the game to them during the first half.
Cleethorpes were happy to sit back and hit them on the counter-attack – a tactic that worked quite well.
Fenty’s first save was after 24 minutes as he somehow palmed Lee Swift’s strike away from the bottom corner. The tone was set and he soon went onto deny Ash Flynn as the striker bore down on goal.
Shaw Lane were straight out of the blocks in the second half with Danny Frost wasting a glorious chance from Shane Kelsey’s pass.
Cleethorpes began to cause the home side problems and Funnell and Marc Cooper both gave Aquaforce hairy moments before Fenty made another brilliant save from Kelsey – an effort that looked set crash into the top corner.
Cleethorpes Town celebrate Chris Funnell’s goal
The stop was crucial as Cleethorpes were ahead within minutes. Cleethorpes were pressing the Shaw Lane defence high up the pitch and Luke Mascall forced an error from Cyrus and won the ball. He then centred the ball for Funnell and the latter couldn’t miss as goalkeeper Jamie Green rushed out.
With the way Cleethorpes celebrated in front of their large group of young supporters, you would have thought they had won the league. It may have taken a while, but there was a sense that the celebrations would come back to haunt them.
Shaw Lane got a big lift when Hanslip made his early exit for delaying the restart – his second caution of the match. The red card was the beginning of a real bombardment of pressure on the Cleethorpes defence and within minutes Fenty had made an incredible save from Aquaforce captain Luke Danville’s header.
Substitute James Burgess then shot straight at Fenty inside the six-yard box. Time was running out and luck looked totally against Shaw Lane as the clock ticked over 90 minutes as a golden opportunity was not taken.
A cross from the right found the unmarked Frost only a few yards out. The striker nodded the ball towards goal with Fenty beaten, only for the crossbar to deny him. The ball then dropped to Kane Reece whose powerful drive was heading for the bottom corner until Frost accidently blocked it with his leg. Kelsey then blazed the rebound towards the corner flag.
That appeared to have been their last chance until Cyrus leaped like a salmon to head the ball into the bottom corner from eight yards – the dramatic goal sparking wild celebrations.
Scenes that both sides will be hoping to recreate in the next few weeks.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce: Green, Stohrer, Fawcus, Patterson (St Juste 80), Danville (captain), Cyrus, Swift, Haigh (Reece 87), Frost, Kelsey, Flynn (Burgess 56). Subs unused: Whitehouse, Grace.
Cleethorpes Town: Fenty, D Grant, Heward, Coleman, Peck (McFarland 56), Richardson, Mascall, Hanslip, Cooper, Funnell (L Grant 67), Flett. Subs unused: Gordon, Oglesby, Newell.
Referee: Jason Knowles (West Yorkshire)
Ref Rating: 10/10
Attendance: 164
Man of the match: Miles Fenty (Cleethorpes Town)
Match Photos are HERE