Adam Watson was a last minute hero for Oxley Vale Attunga as they salvaged a share of the points in their Northern Inland Premier Division clash with Gunnedah FC on Saturday.
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Down 3-2 the Mushies were on the verge of their first loss of the season. But with a minute remaining they were awarded a free kick, and after a scramble in the box Watson buried the ball in the net to level the scores at 3-all.
It completed what coach Tim Coates said was a good fightback from his side. They trailed 3-nil at one stage against what was a much-improved Gunnedah FC outfit on when they met in the first round. Then the Mushies thrashed them 8-3.
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"Credit to them, they'd changed from the first time they played us," Coates said.
"They played hard, they played physical and they were good."
He said Gunnedah were probably "a bit too physical" for them early on. Coming off the high of their 3-1 win over Tamworth FC the previous week, they also weren't quite switched on to the task at hand.
The wind, which they were playing into in the first half, didn't make life easy either.
But after a "conversation" at half-time, the Mushies' leadership group rallied and "put things right".
After being three goals up against the competition leaders and on the cusp of causing the upset of the season, Gunnedah FC coach Andy Cygan said the draw was "very hard to take" and the mood was "a little bit flat" in the dressing sheds afterwards.
By the same token, he said he would have taken a point before the game.
"It was really good: everything we thought we could do," Cygan said.
"We've been building towards this."
In tough conditions, he thought the first 45-50 minutes was some of the best football they have played this season.
"There was a lot of energy, everybody worked hard," he said.
"There wasn't a single player that stood out. It was probably the best games from everyone."
He said he wasn't really sure what happened in the second half.
Harley Cheetham slotted two of their goals and was outstanding for them.
Elsewhere North Companions and Quirindi drew 1-all, Moore Creek edged out Kootingal 3-2 and Tamworth FC just got over South United 2-1.
