Last-gasp penalty sees Railway win seven-goal thriller
The Starbeck club beat the Dennyboys 4-3 in the FA Cup back in September before losing out 5-3 to them in a league game just seven days later.
And Marlon Adams’ side triumphed by a 4-3 margin once again on Saturday afternoon, edging home in dramatic fashion despite appearing to have thrown away two points after conceding twice in the closing stages.
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Hide AdThe Rail won at Athersley Recreation last time out and looked to have picked up where they left off when Shane Hamilton poked the ball past advancing Thackley goalkeeper Luke Wilson in the 17th minute.
The visitors pulled level just moments later through Jerome White’s close-range tap-in, but Railway re-took the lead with 25 minutes on the clock.
Jamie Bairstow’s free-kick came straight back to him 25 yards from goal and he picked out the back of the net at the second attempt with a stunnning strike.
The same player was at it again five minutes into the second period, whipping in a corner that sailed over everyone and into the Thackley goal.
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Hide AdAt 3-1 up, Marlon Adams’ men appeared to be cruising to a crucial three points until debutant defender Max Thirwall was shown a red card for a professional foul when he was adjudged to have pulled down a visiting attacker as he looked to run in on goal.
Mike Garrod then handed Thackley a lifeline five minutes from time and things went from bad to worse for the 10 men of Railway when Jordan Hines took the score to 3-3 in the 90th minute.
But there was still opportunity for the hosts go down the other end and win themselves a stoppage-time spot-kick, Lincoln Adams stepping up to convert from 12 yards and deciding the game.
Railway remain in the NCEL Premier Division relegation zone despite their recent resurgence, but sit just three points shy of safety and with games in hand on the two sides directly above them in the table.