Goals changing matches has always been true, and they can also dramatically alter League tables as has been proved countless times.
So it was in League Two today which saw at least nine teams battling to avoid the indignity of losing their EFL status at the end of the season. And the goals in the closing minutes made a big difference to positions in the table.
Carlisle, after taking the lead to rivals in distress Colchester United, were trailing 2-1 with four minutes left when new signing Tobi Sho-Silva headed a so-vital equaliser.
At that moment, however, Carlisle were still in the bottom two as the 10-men of Oldham were holding a 3-2 lead at Newport County. Then in the 89th minute Mickey Demetriou scored a sensational equaliser for the Welsh side to deny John Sheridan’s men a crucial win.
While these late goals were taking place, Walsall had scored a late penalty (85 minutes) from Conor Wilkinson to beat promotion-chasing Tranmere, recording their first victory for two months.
Barrow and Stevenage, both theoretically in the relegation mix, played-out a 0-0 stalemate in the day’s late-kick-off.
For Carlisle, though, the relief was huge as Sho-Silva dived to head home Joe Riley’s cross from close range.
The Blues had gone in front through Omari Patrick with a lovely finish in the 51st minute.
Colchester, who had some good opportunities towards the end of the first half, got back on germs through a Tommy Smith header on 69 minutes.
Five minutes later Tyreik Wright’s first goal in a Colchester United shirt put Wayne Brown’s side ahead with just over fifteen minutes to play.
There was just four minutes left to play though, then Sho-Silva headed the equaliser, ensuring that both sides would take a point.
Manager Keith Millen had asked for a return to clean sheet mentality, and although he didn’t get that, the battling draw to end a run of four successive defeats was a welcome return from the trip to Essex.
