Kellys Poets looked like they were to finish their game with a frustrating draw on Sunday before two stoppage time goals saw off a gallant effort from Cubs FC. Having hit more bars than a Hen Party on a London pub crawl, the ball finally found its way into the net with the hosts' seventh shot on goal, closely followed by as similar result with the 8th to record two wins from two at the start of the current season.
The first half was fairly even possession wise, but the home side had the greater cutting edge, albeit the visitors were blessed by a goal frame that seemed to attract the ball, with both AA Milne and Bicky Porterhouse hitting the same bit of bar.
The home side persisted after the half-time turn-around with several efforts being thwarted by some great last-ditch tackles and heroics from Dan Gleisner in the visitors' goal. And when they did finally get through, Milne was once again denied by the frame of the goal when his glancing header saw the ball bounce off the corner between bar and post before trickling behind Gleisner, Garmendia hacking the ball clear.
The visitors were severely hampered in the final quarter however when captain Cranleigh was forced to withdraw, and with Cubs mysteriously only naming one sub, the visitors had to see the remaining period out with just ten men, Landry having to make way for Bush at half time. Sensing KP were growing frustrated, the tiring Eldur Einarson was withdrawn, and Birgir Gylfison came on for the last quarter hour, and this proved to be a decisive factor.
Despite their numerical advantage, KP could not find a way through. However, with the clock just having passed the 90 mark Cubs failed to clear their penalty area properly. Shakhovskoi had been colossal, but sliced his clearance from Porterhouse's right wing cross. the ball went straight back to the midfielder, who instantly drove the ball back into the danger zone, the ball falling for Gylfison who calmly stroked the ball into the corner to snatch a last-gasp winner.
The visitors were shellshocked and were caught in desperation mode just three minutes later when Bush was dispossessed just beyond the 'D' of the KP penalty area. Lewandowski's long pass found Gylfison ran to the corner of the penalty area only to be denied the pass to the galloping Freddie Albertson by a last gasp recovery tackle by Bush.
However, quick thinking Gylfison ran straight to the corner flag and, having spotted the onrushing K-D Smith, pinged a quick pass. The midfielder shaped to shoot, but as he drew the defenders, so they left Albertson unmarked, and the Anglo-German's subtle pass gave Albertson time and space to pick his spot and seal it with the last kick of the game.
"Very pleasing," said Infront after the game, "but in truth we made hard work of it. Cubs were exceptionally brave in defence.
"In the end were persistent I suppose and, as such, deserved the win," he continued, "but I might have those bloody goal frames replaced!"
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