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Northend Thistle have entered into the Arran football history books once again by causing havoc to league standings by scoring their first ever point in the competition for more than 14 years.
It was a day of high emotion at the Hay Field in Lochranza as Northend grabbed their first point of the season against a slack Southend, in a game that could have been won by either team.
Captain Matt Milne was almost too overwhelmed to speak after Saturday’s game. He said: ‘That was a great game from us today. Very solid play that I’m sure impressed the fans. I’m really proud of the boys. I’m confident that a win is now within our grasp.’
Northend made the national newspaper headlines last autumn when they were named the worst team in Britain for failing to win a match in more than 14 years.
But, Britain’s worst team dominated the game early on and it only took five minutes for Nick Underdown to score the first goal of the match.
A string of mistakes at the back by Southend led to Nick receiving the ball on the edge of the box, before cutting inside and curling the ball past the keeper with a well placed shot into the bottom corner.
Northend were on a high a continued to press, looking deadly every time they got into the Southend half and within 20 minutes, the home team went two up.
Martin Wallbank was fouled outside the box by Alec MacDonald, but referee Brian Miller ruled it inside the box and awarded a penalty.
They say what goes around comes around, and after a lucky penalty in their favour against Brodick the previous week, Southend were now on the receiving end of bad luck. Matt Milne stepped up and placed the ball down the centre of the goal with a cheeky finish to make the score 2-0.
Northend constantly frustrated the Southenders by halting one wave of attack after another - playing counter-attacking football to put pressure on the Southend defence. And it paid off.
Bryan McCallum caught onto a long through ball, and after out pacing the Southend defence he chipped the ball past goalkeeper Craig Black to make it 3-0 to Northend!
All nine supporters were ecstatic.
It proved to be a wake-up call for Southend who started to get a foothold of the game, managing more and more openings; putting dangerous balls across the face of goal, with one eventually deflecting off Northend's Mark Wetton and past the keeper to bring the score to 3-1.
It became one-way football from that point, with Northend keeper Robert Simpson being called into action on more than one occasion.
However, the pressure finally paid off and Frazer Barr grabbed another one back to take the teams into the break with Northend winning by 3 goals to 2.
The second-half was more closely contested; Northend's pitch turning into a crucible of emotion as both sides looked for another goal.
But it was the away side who managed to get one with Nicky Emsley rising above the Northend defence to header the ball past the keeper and make the score 3-3.
Northend couldn't believe they had thrown away a three goal lead, and the game could have easily gone Southend's way if it had not been for the quick reactions of Robert Simpson - who seemed to stop everything goal-bound.
However, Northend had the best chance of the half when they were awarded another penalty. Matt Milne stepped-up once more, but failed to hit the target - sending the ball wide of the goal and out for a goal kick.
The Northenders started to get back into the game, with the two sides creating chances, and both keepers being called into action.
Northend had a shot cleared off the line, and the Southenders counter attacks could not prove vital.
The game finished 3-3, with the Northenders overjoyed and the Southenders desolate. Southend will play Shiskine in a fortnight for the league, but should the game finish in a draw and Brodick beat Northend, the league title will go to Brodick.
