Glenthorne United B kept up the pressure on leaders Blizzard Storm, coming from behind to edge a tight game with Shirley Park at the top of Division Four as Fabio Riveccio scored twice to cancel out Jamie Bushell's opener.
Glenthorne went into the game without having conceded a single goal at home this season but it took just six minutes for Shirley Park to go in front as they capitalised on lax defending from the hosts. Ben Bushall sent a corner into the area which Lee Bushell headed goalwards at the near post, but it was saved and cleared for a second corner. Glenthorne failed to heed the warning as the same routine again saw Lee Bushell flick in a near post header which Mitchel Ross again saved, but this time it fell for Jamie Bushall to fire home on the rebound.
Glenthorne rallied well thereafter and started to get the ball on the floor and put pressure on the Shirley Park goal. A header from Richard Rosenthal missed the target following a free kick, and a series of corners eventually lead to Daniel Lassman being felled in the area by Ben Bushell. Revieccio stepped up to slot home the penalty confidently.
It was a fairly scrappy game, with set-pieces looking the most likely source of a goal for either side and Shirley Park contrived to miss a succession of chances as the half wore on.
Dan Mitman's long throws were causing Glenthorne problems, one of which was narrowly flicked over by Ilan Shaki from close range.
Shirley Park's former West Brom player Nicky Plotnik went on a run past three Glenthorne players before seeing his close range effort saved.
Shaki had another glorious chance from a free kick which bounced menacingly in the area as his header beat Ross but went just over the bar.
There were fewer chances in the second period as both sides continued to struggle to find any rhythhm in particularly windy conditions. Plotnik had a speculative half volley from distance comfortably saved by Ross as the visitors continued to look the likelier to score a winner.
Mitman found himself clean through on goal shortly afterwards after the ball broke loose in the area but he could only fire straight at the goalkeeper. Oade struck a free kick from just outside the area into the wall, and shortly afterwards Oade went through after being played in by an excellent pass from Jamie Bushell, but struck narrowly over the bar.
Shirley Park were made to pay for their profligacy late on as Glenthorne struck the winner five minutes from time. After a period of sustained pressure on the Glenthorne goal, the ball broke for Lassman to launch a long ball forward which Howard Yuchatel came and missed, allowing Revieccio to pounce and poke the ball into the empty net.
Thornes manager Elliott Coulton was pleased to win a tight game, but admitted that his side were fortunate to win, and was unsure about the penalty his team were awarded in the first period.
Coulton told JC Sport: “I do not know about the penalty. It could have been an incorrect decision. We did not really deserve to win and we could have had no complaints had they got a point.”
Park joint-manager Dan Oade felt his side had done enough to earn a point. “We were disappointed as we were confident of beating them. We should have taken a draw, but we were aiming to win promotion, our goal at the start of the season, and that is still on.”
Glenthorne United B goals: Fabio Riveccio 21 (pen), 86
Shirley Park: Jamie Bushell 5
Glenthorne: Mitchel Ross, Daniel Jackson (sub: Herman), Steve Faye, Elliot Coulton, Josh Wynne (sub: Elliot Brent), James Law, Richard Rosenthal, Daniel Lassman, Jamie Crawford, David Blackman (sub: Josh Hambling), Fabio Revieccio
Shirley Park: Howard Yuchatel, Lee Bushall, Jamie Bushall, Ben Bushall, Adam Redhouse, Nicky Plotnik, Dan Mittman, Jason Lindsay, Daniel Oade, Ilan Shaki, David Lusman
