New Hollands & Blair boss Clint Gooding was left speechless as Corinthian staged the ultimate smash and grab raid to incredibly claim all three points after the most bizarre ninety-five minutes of the season at Star Meadow on Tuesday night. 

The home side, playing their first SCEFL home game under Gooding, deservedly led and led well courtesy of goals from Harvey Welford and Charlie Weston as Oscar Housego stook over a ninetieth minute free kick for the visitors.

As the kick deflected off the wall and past a wrong-footed Jack Reeves, no one present could have imagined what was to follow in referee Myers’ five minutes of stoppage time as Blair luckless keeper was wrong footed by a Jamie Billings shot for 2-2 and the incredibly in the game’s final attack, Billings poked out a foot to roll the ball home for one of the most unlikeliest winners in SCEFL history to complete a remarkable turn around and literally nick all three points. 

The home players and supporters were stunned into silence as the few travelling fans celebrated as Gooding was left to rue what might have been. 

It had been an intriguing opening half that began in very murky Medway conditions with half chances at both ends – Elbe-Joe Boichat fired over the Corinthian bar whilst Housego’s low drive was well held by Reeves. Will Oliver was first to test Corinthian keeper Nathan Boamah whilst Billings header (from a Housego corner) clipped the Blair bar.  

Reeves pulled off a fine save to beat out Housego’s effort before Blair took the lead. A long ball out of defence released Welford and the young striker showed composure beyond his young years to race away, round Boamah and hammer the ball home despite desperate defenders throwing themselves at the ball. 

The visitors needed a response and nearly got one straight away but Khayrie Harris’ header from a corner missed the target. 

Early in the second period, Reeves had to be alert to deal with a low Harris centre that the keeper just got his fingers to, before Malachy Turner was sin binned for something he said. Blair were to take full advantage as with Corinthian down to ten men, George Monger, who worked tirelessly in the Blair cause all night long, flighted over a corner that Weston powered home to give the home side what at that stage looked like a much needed three points. 

Corinthian pressed without really getting that clear chance they so desperately needed – Housego fired a free-kick wide; Henry Arnold had a shot blocked before Callum Keeble fired the rebound wide, and Turner then saw a shot well saved by Reeves. 

Then came the most remarkable of finale’s – Housego’s free kick was deflected off the defensive wall for one-two and then Billings’ shot from the edge of the box in the first minute of stoppage time and beyond Reeves for two each before the totally unthinkable happened as a ball into the box was not cleared, and Billings stuck out a boot and the ball almost apologetically rolled into the home sides net to win the game for Corinthian. 

You really had to feel for Gooding and his young side after playing so well for eighty-nine minutes, but then the cruel fate that is football reared its head and the visitors into the early Play Off places. As a Corinthian official was heard to comment at the end, “What a made game!” … 

HOLLANDS & BLAIR – Reeves, Tilley (Whitton), Wright, Monger, Sains, Boichat (Allan), Oliver (Peters), Welford (Gooding), Chandler, Akinrimehin 

Sub – Brooker 

CORINTHIAN – Boamah, Turner, Duncan, Fitzgerald, Jamie Billings, Jack Billings, Harris, Atkins (Apena), Esumobi (Keeble), Housego, Arnold 

Subs – Walton, Early, Benning 

REFEREE – Mr. Myers