(Ekers 30, Sparrow 48 88, Dellow 83, C Reade 89)
The Garvary Goldenbears exploded into life to score in each of the final two minutes in an eight-goal thriller against Pro Max at the Hall.
Despite a nervy start, Garvary completely outclassed their opponents in the second half and fully merited their enthralling victory.
A period of pressure, supported by the marauding runs of full-backs Underwood and Baker, was to see Garvary take the lead on the half-hour mark.
Tricky winger Paul Dellow drove purposefully towards goal before cutting inside to deliver an out-swinging cross that met the the perfectly-timed run of Colin Ekers - who glanced the ball deafly inside the far post eight yards from goal.
The game fell into a scrappy lull following the goal, with centre-half Daniel Wilson and the returning Lewis Sparrow winning the majority of the aerial battles.
Goal-scorer Ekers brought the first-half proceedings to a close by dragging a speculative effort wide of the left post from 20 yards.
The second-half began disastrously for Garvary. A long ball over the top and in behind both Wilson and Adam Moore allowed Pro Max time and space to equalise by placing a shot past Childs and into the bottom corner on 47 minutes.
The Goldenbears refused to let the setback deflate them and fought back with an immediate response to regain their lead.
Marc Baker – exceptional at right-back throughout – delivered the ball into the box for Sparrow to head home and celebrate his Garvary return with a goal.
The Goldenbears’ lack of composure at the back cost them dearly again as they surrendered their lead for a second time on 55 minutes.
Garvary number 1 Craig Childs suffered from a rush of blood to the head and made an ill-judged decision to race from his line in an attempt to smother the ball at the feet of a Pro Max attacker running wide of goal.
His sprawl for the ball appeared to bring down the player and, much to the ‘keeper’s dismay, was adjudged to have been worthy of a spot-kick.
Childs guessed the direction of the ball correctly but could only watch as it flew beyond his reach and into the bottom corner.
Shortly after, Childs adhered to make amends – turning a fine Pro Max effort around his near post.
His opposite number was next to be called into action by Chris Reade’s quickly-taken free-kick and the composed midfielder’s strike at goal was pushed wide for a corner.
The resulting corner allowed Ekers to make another attempt at goal – flashing the ball just wide of the far post.
Minutes later, Pro Max bruised Goldenbear pride by heading in from a corner to make it 2-3 with less than half an hour remaining.
The away side threatened to double their advantage when Wilson appeared to get caught out at the back, but their tame effort was struck straight at Childs.
On 68 minutes, the referee awarded a penalty to Garvary after Matt Crumbie, who had just beaten two defenders in the box, was hacked to the ground only to bizarrely overturn the decision after consulting the Pro Max-affiliated linesman.
The highly controversial episode enraged the Goldenbears, but the referee – whose decisions had been frequently called into question throughout – would not relent to the furious reactions and called for the game to resume.
Garvary began to search desperately for an equalizer, frustrated not only by the referee but by their failure to impose their visible superiority on the scoreline.
Reade pulled a shot wide of the right-hand post from the edge of the area on 72 minutes and that was closely-followed by a purposeful Ekers dribble into the box that had to be denied at close-range with a last-ditch challenge.
Crumbie then appeared to be hauled down in the area for a second time, only to have his protests waved away by the sub-par referee.
Garvary’s winning mentality held strong and was rewarded with a superb and much-desired equaliser in the 83rd minute.
Paul Dellow - who had shaken off an earlier knock to pose a constant threat in the Garvary frontline – carried the ball into the box and kept his composure to calmly slot the ball low into the far-bottom corner.
What followed on 88 minutes was far from calm.
Lewis Sparrow forced the Goldenbears into a dramatic lead by following up his hooked effort that had rebounded off the bar with a header that looped over the despairing Pro Max ‘keeper and into the bottom corner.
The goal sent both players and fans into frenzied celebrations on the sidelines.
It was not to be the final goal of the game as Chris Reade put the icing on the cake by ending patient Garvary build-up with a shift inside onto his left foot and by curling a classy finish past the ‘keeper and into the top corner. A piece of skill that was appreciated for its beauty by his team-mates.
The goal rewarded the Goldenbears for their refusal to adopt an uglier direct approach after falling behind, and will encourage them to maintain their ideals of flowing and attractive football to the bitter end as they go marching on.
Man of the Match: Paul Dellow - Created the opener and gave his side the platform to grab their dramatic victory with a goal that drew the game level seven minutes from the end.
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