A GOALKEEPER’S lot is not always a happy one.

Granted, their fitness regime can be far more relaxed than their outfield counterparts, but virtually every mistake they make is punished with an opposition goal.

And goals from those whose job it is to stop them are as rare as hen’s teeth.

But Josh McGreavy produced a real collector’s item with his Turton side trailing 3-2 to local rivals Tempest United on Saturday.

By half time, hosts Tempest had established a 2-0 lead through Nathan Monson’s double, and it stayed that way until 15 minutes remained when Osman Karacan halved the deficit.

A wonder goal from Kurtis Farlow then appeared to have sealed victory for the hosts. But, almost straight from the kick-off, Ally Dickson gave Turton hope, scoring to make it 3-2 with four minutes left.

And, deep into stoppage time, the Tigers’ keeper threw caution to the wind on a foray forward, rising to meet a corner and bury his header to break Tempest hearts.

“It was crackers,” recalled Turton manager Craig Jones. “He did ask my permission to go up, but he was already over halfway there when he bothered to say anything to me. I thought he could cause them a problem in there,

“I never thought in my wildest dreams he’d be the one putting a good header like that in, though.

“Josh is definitely a frustrated striker, it was a really great moment but, as for him asking me to put him up front in the future, I think he knows better than that!”

Jones readily admits Tempest had been good value for their lead in a wind-affected first half. But the way his players struck back, even with so little time left, gives him hope this could turn out to be a magnificent trophy-laden season at Thomason Fold.

Saturday’s point took the Tigers to fourth in the Premier Division and, having stayed undefeated since late November, they still have the League Cup and Hospital Cup to play for, with Blackpool Wren Rovers and Horwich St Mary’s Victoria their respective opponents in those competitions.

There is also the small matter of the Lancashire FA Shield final against Thornton Cleveleys in May.

Jones, who has not given up on breaking into the top three in the league, will be hoping his players can show the same fighting spirit as last Saturday as they head for the business end of the season.

“I was very frustrated on Saturday,” he added. “I hold my hands up for my part but we’d not really competed in the first half, we hadn’t dealt with their long balls in the horrendous wind. We hadn’t made them do anything fancy to undo us.

“They had a stern talking-to at half time – not a shouting match, just working on positives and giving them a reminder to get back to what they had been doing in games before.

“I brought Phil Johnson on in the midfield and he gave us a lot of heart, desire and endeavour, he played ridiculously well.

“We rescued a point from nothing against Tempest and I told them to enjoy it but bear in mind we’d only drawn. I was pleased with the comeback, if not the performance as a whole, but it gives me pleasure to know I can speak to them and they’ll respond, so all credit to them.

“There are lots of great memories being made at Turton, Josh’s goal on Saturday is definitely one of them. We’ve got honest and hungry players here but we know we’re only ever 90 minutes from a defeat.

“I thought it was game over when Kurtis scored a brilliant goal – I wouldn’t have told them that, though.

“Not that these lads ever know when they’re beaten.

“All we can do is keep working, keep winning and we’ll see what happens.”

Elsewhere, Atherton Collieries stretched their lead at the top of the Evo-Stik West table as Connor Hughes and Tom Bentham scored in Monday night’s 2-1 win at home to Leek Town.

The weekend saw heavy defeats for the two struggling local sides in the Hallmark Security League First Division North.

Bottom side Atherton LR suffered a 7-0 loss at title contenders Avro while second-bottom Daisy Hill left Nelson empty-handed after an 8-1 defeat, Hensley Mills getting their consolation.

Old Boltonians moved up to sixth in the Lancashire Amateur League Premier Division with a 4-2 win at home to Rossendale. Sean Rushton hit the net twice, with Joe Johnson and Lucas Gaynor also on target.

But there were top-flight defeats for Little Lever, beaten 2-1 at Mostonians, and Blackrod Town, who lost 6-4 at home to Rochdale St Clement’s.

In Division One, Horwich RMI were defeated 3-2 at Failsworth Dynamos Reserves.

n The draw for the 2019 Hospital Cup has taken place, and is as follows: Atherton Town v Walshaw, Turton v Horwich St Mary’s Victoria, Old Boltonians v Elton Vale, Tempest United v Atherton LR, Pennington v Hindsford, Eagley v Stoneclough, CMB v Bolton Wyresdale, Daisy Hill v Bolton County.

All first-round matches are to be completed before April 12.