Little over a week removed from the NCEL website sharing the news that Staveley Miners Welfare wouldn't be able to compete in this season's NCEL First Division play-offs a Trojan-like performance was required to see off a valiant Horbury Town side who mid-week put an end to four games without a win.
Staveley went into the game on the back of a heavy 4-0 defeat away at league-leaders, Campion. Heading into what some described as the season-defining game for both sides, the hosts made four changes to their starting 11. Jack Allerton, Tim Whittaker and Max Rhodes weren't named in the squad, MacKenzie Ross was dropped to the bench.
In a game where the winning side took fifth place, both sides threw caution into the wind early on. James Cusworth and Samuel Awty with the efforts from twenty yards out forcing saves out of Addison Bliss in the Trojans goal.
It was the visitors that struck first. Staveley failed to deal with a corner from Samuel Kyeremeh, Gibril Bojang remained composed on the edge of the area to dribble the ball past two Trojan players before placing the ball into Bliss' bottom corner to make it 0-1.
It didn't take long for the hosts to draw level, just four minutes later, Bojang were judged to have pulled Dustyn Grierson to the floor when defending a corner, the referee shown no hesitation when pointing to the spot. Will Wraith confidently stepped up and pulled the home side level, sending the keeper the wrong way.
As both sides battled back and forth, a needless foul conceded by Jordan Claxton gifted Horbury an opportunity in a dangerous position. Ousmane Sidibe's excellently placed free-kick was headed in by an unmarked Joe Penn to regain his side's lead heading into the break.
Pat Lindley introduced new energy into his side by bringing MacKenzie Ross on for Josh Deveraux at half-time as Staveley pushed their visitors with a high press from the moment the second half got back underway.
This high-press style of play would eventually pay off for Lindley's team, Jack Deakin received a short free-kick from Sam Hooper and carried this fifteen yards before hitting the ball low and hard past Paul Hagreen from 20-yards out to draw Staveley level for the second time.
Despite being behind twice, the Trojans' character shone through and on 76 minutes, the turnaround was complete. Ross' pin-point cross found the head of Sam Kay who headed home past Hagreen with his seventh goal of the season to spark celebrations amongst the Staveley faithful behind the goal.
Horbury gave their best efforts but the Trojans defence stood firm as the full-time whistle would blow on an afternoon that would provide an excellent advert for NCEL football from two sides very worthy of a place in the play-offs.
This win keeps Staveley in fifth place, with Horbury in sixth, there are five points separating the two sides with Horbury having played a game less.
Up next for Staveley is a trip to Beverley Town, with just three games of the season left to play, expect more twists and turns before the final whistle is blown on this memorable campaign.
Player of the match; Clark Greaves.
Line-Up; Bliss, Claxton, Dolman, Grierson, Greaves, Hooper, Deveraux (MacKenzie), Kay, Tracey (Bingham), Deakin, Wraith (Pickering)
Subs not used; Wilson, Brown.