Old Boys' trend of scoring important late goals happily continued as they snatched all 3 points in yet another close game at home to high-flying 3 Lions.

The visitors were worthy opposition & probably consider themselves unlucky to have not walked away with something from the game, though yet again they indulged in some world-class twisting about the ref at the end of the game (just as they did in the cup match when Zammo's last-gasp free kick did for them) showing that they don't take defeat particularly well.

In their favour, the front pairing are most definitely the fastest combination Old Boys will play against this year, though both seemed strangely reluctant to take men on, they preferred to use their speed & chase.

Laighty was having his 21st celebrations, so he was a miss, but it was a refreshingly strong line up for a Tuesday night game.

The game itself was nip & tuck. 3 Lions passed the ball nicely at times and their pace was always going to be a threat, but the back 5 performed well, except for Ben's horrific misjudgement in running under a free kick, which he was grateful to see just scrape wide of the post.

Gaffer seemed reluctant to take his man on, he kept taking a touch & whipping a cross in from all angles (I later discovered this to be on the manager's instructions) but towards the end of the 1st half it paid dividends. A cross sent in from just inside the 3 Lions half found the onrushing Chrissy Brown and he looped a header over the keeper who had found himself in no man's land.

Chrissy was putting in a good shift on the left & deserved his goal.

The visitors equalised in slightly controversial circumstances early in the second half. One striker was put clear, though he was clearly offside. He ran until he was up with the ball, but dd not touch it. His speedy partner had run from his own half, got the other lad out of the way & slotted home. It's all down to interpretation on interfering with play I suppose & from a Blackhall point of view, we were a little aggrieved it was awarded.

From this point onward, chances were at a premium. Blackhall were mainly restricted to shots from distance, and the home defence coped well enough with the opposition, with Ben making one good save with his legs to keep it at 1-1.

Blackhall got a corner with 7 minutes left and then it happened. Zammo whipped in a wicked ball & found Gaffer on the edge of the 6 yard box. He gratefully headed home.

In fading light the visitors pressed for the equaliser & there were one or two scares. They had the ball in the net twice, one disallowed for offside (looked about right) and one because the ball had previously gone out (couldn't tell) but after 3 minutes of injury time the vital 3 points were secured.

On to a cup semi on Sunday when the pressure is most certainly off.