It was goals galore at Springfield Road on Saturday, as Pulrose United eventually came out on top in an eleven-goal thriller against Foxdale in their Ardern & Druggan Division 2 fixture, winning 7–4 in an afternoon packed with attacking football, outstanding individual performances and a controversial decision.
The hosts were out of the blocks quickly, with Nay Halsall firing narrowly wide inside two minutes before Owen Canipa opened the scoring shortly afterwards.
Canipa beat the offside trap down the right, raced into the penalty area and calmly slotted beyond Andy Ball to give Pulrose a fourth-minute lead.
Foxdale gradually settled into the contest, with Ricky Newsham, Liam Cannan and Kev Pulman enjoying spells of possession in midfield, although initially struggling to find that final pass.
Pulrose continued to threaten, with Ball denying Jimmy Lowther’s effort, before James Maginn fired narrowly over following a dangerous Halsall free-kick.
The pressure paid off, however, and the visitors found their equaliser in the 26th minute.
Scott Kermeen initially saw a header cleared off the line by Canipa, before meeting another Newsham corner moments later, this time heading in off the underside of the bar.
It was Foxdale who’d strike next, completing the turnaround just eight minutes later.
Good work from Pulman in midfield released Cannan down the left, whose deep delivery picked out an unmarked Michael Sloan to head home at the back post.
Pulrose weren’t going away quietly, though, and restored parity shortly before half-time when Declan McKay clambered through a crowded six-yard box to head home Jason Kelch’s corner.
Half-time: Pulrose Utd 2-2 Foxdale
Second Half
The second period began brightly, with Foxdale’s Will Taylor causing problems, and the visitors duly regained their advantage in the 58th minute.
Matthew Cubbon delivered a dangerous ball across the six-yard box, where Matty Redmond arrived at the back post to slot home.
But Pulrose responded just five minutes later.
Lowther produced some excellent work down the right, driving past three defenders before firing into a crowded penalty area. Will McPhee reacted quickest, with Canipa eventually lashing home the leveller.
Then came the afternoon’s biggest talking point.
Lowther again caused problems down the right before delivering towards Canipa, who appeared to head the ball back into play from beyond the goal line.
McPhee played to the whistle and turned the ball home, with the goal standing despite strong protests from the Foxdale players.
And from there, Pulrose took control.
Halsall, who had worked tirelessly to create opportunities throughout the afternoon, produced arguably the goal of the game on 75 minutes, wrapping his foot around a magnificent 20-yard effort that rattled the woodwork on its way in.
Six minutes later, Canipa completed his hat-trick, although much of the credit belonged to Lowther.
Picking the ball up 35 yards out, Lowther drove forward, riding three challenges before delicately lifting an effort towards goal. The ball held up in the grass before crossing the line, allowing Canipa to nip in and poke home.
Lowther finally got the goal his performance deserved just two minutes later, finding space on the right before sending an audacious effort over Ball and into the net.
Whether he intended it as a cross or a shot is another question entirely, but they all count!
Foxdale had the final say in stoppage time when Cubbon headed home from a free-kick, but it was little more than a consolation.
The visitors will be disappointed to leave empty-handed considering their league position before kick-off and having twice fought back to take the lead, while Pulrose’s attacking trio of Lowther, Canipa and Halsall ultimately proved too much to handle.
Eleven goals, a hat-trick, controversy and plenty of entertainment. Quite an afternoon.
Full-time: Pulrose Utd 7-4 Foxdale