Despite being six first team players short, visitors Gymns grabbed a spectacular draw against much-fancied Peel at Douglas Road on Saturday.
A well-placed header from substitute Simon Dixon, late in the game, provided the Tromode side with a valuable point that for most of the game they could only have dreamed about.
Rick Holden’s side dominated the opening half and took a deserved lead in the ninth minute when Matthew Woods picked his way through the visitors’ defence before slamming home the opener.
The westerners then created a series of clear cut chances only to see Kevin Megson, Kerron Christian and Andy Crennell all fail to find the target.
To be fair the Gymns defence worked hard as a unit and, together with impressive keeper Chris Kelly, did their best to frustrate the home side.
After the break the westerners continued to search for a second goal and it required two fine saves from keeper Kelly to deny good strikes from Christian and Lee Gale.
After riding their luck Ken Hedley’s side gradually managed to gain a foothold in the game and, with just 11 minutes remaining, remarkably, found themselves on level terms.
Dixon rose to meet Jonathon Broad’s well delivered free-kick before steering it wide of keeper Stuart Morris’s reach.
The goal clearly stunned the home team and they were unable to mount a telling response as the game drifted towards an inevitable draw.
TEAM CHECK
Peel: Stuart Morris, Kevin Megson, Daniel Lace, Chris Cain (Johnny Cain), Andy Crennell, Rob Cottier, Lee Gale, Marc Kelly, Kerron Christian, (Neil Birchenough), Liam Harrison, Matty Woods.
Gymns: Chris Kelly, Jonathon Broad, Barry Hardinge, Dan Swann, Wayne Morris, Gareth Gawne, Michael Booth, Mark Connor, Steven Cretney (Simon Dixon), Luke Fisher (Ryan Edge), Mark McCarrick (Adam Fick)
Referee: Colin Coole - had an excellent game, stayed up with play, kept the game flowing and explained his decisions
Assistants: William Blair and Peter Beighton
Man of the Match: Chris Kelly - kept his cool and made a series of fine saves
Match rating: HHIII
Attendance: 108