BILLY Smart’s injury-time strike salvaged a point that felt like a win for Witton Albion against FC United of Manchester.
The tenacious midfielder crashed home the ball from Kyle Sambor’s supply four minutes into added time to seal a 3-3 draw at Wincham Park.
Billy Smart celebrates earning Witton a share of the spoils four minutes into added time. Picture: Karl Brooks Photography
That wasn’t the only hand Sambor had in Carl Macauley’s side rescuing a game they were being outplayed in until midway through the second half.
He joined the play in place of James Short in the 62nd minute after Witton had conceded twice in quick succession at the start of the second half.
Eight minutes later the speedy striker had cut the deficit in half, firing low and hard after another influential substitute Tom Owens had laid him on from a breakaway.
The sequence for Kyle Sambor's first goal. Pictures: Karl Brooks Photography
Witton continued to force the change of momentum and got back on level terms in the 83rd minute when Sambor’s pace and trickery turned the FC defence inside-out and he buried his shot over the dive of visiting keeper Cameron Belford.
The skill and passion behind Kyle Sambor's second goal. Picture: Karl Brooks Photography
They were his first goals for the team and in the BetVictor Northern Premier League.
But after all the hard work of turning the tide, United were quick to respond.
A powerful blast from Adam Dodd took a deflection which left Chris Renshaw beaten at his near post.
The travelling army of FC fans in the 933 crowd celebrated like Dodd’s second goal had won the game but the sting in the tail came in the five minutes of added time when Smart and Witton were rewarded for never giving up on the contest.
They could have crumbled after conceding to Mike Potts (50mins) and Dodd (58mins) but Macauley then got some magic out of his substitutions to back up the previous week’s 4-1 win at Mickleover Sports and provide a solid platform going into next Saturday’s home clash with Scarborough Athletic.
Happy Witton Albion fans. Picture: Karl Brooks Photography
Witton: Chris Renshaw, Isaac Baldwin, James Short, Josh Wardle, Adam Anson, Liam Goulding, Danny McKenna, Billy Smart, Will Jones, Cesaire Lingouba, Michael Monaghan. Subs: Tom Owens, Jack Byrne, Kyle Sambor, Ryan Neild.
FC United: Cameron Belford, Aaron Norris, Adam Dodd, Luke Griffiths, Chris Doyle, Curtis Jones, Michael Donohue, Mike Potts, Tunde Owolabi, Paul Ennis, Regan Linney. Subs: Jack Lenehan, Mason Walker, Jordan Buckley, Ashley Young, Alex Curran.
View the full gallery of pictures by Karl Brooks Photography above
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