Goalkeeper Luke Southwood’s crucial penalty save in the final minute of stoppage time helped secure all three points for Bristol Rovers in their League Two clash with Salford City at the Memorial Stadium at the weekend.
The home side had come from a goal down to lead 2-1 when the referee controversially awarded Salford a penalty deep into injury time, only for the Northern Ireland shot stopper to superbly save Luke Garbutt’s spot kick.
“It’s about as good as it gets,” Southwood told the club website. “I was devastated when the referee gave it, but then I thought immediately, ‘this is your chance now, you can get the boys a well-deserved three points.’
“To go and do it, it’s about as good as it gets for a goalie, and the feeling is incredible.
“You do a bit of analysis and a lot of it goes on feeling,” he added. “To be honest, you go with your instincts. It’s luck, but also good technique to save it and get the rebound as well.”
On the goalscoring front, winger Ross McCausland, who is on a season-long loan with Aris Limassol from Rangers, made it three goals in three games as the Cypriot side made it four wins from their opening five games with a 3-0 home victory over Achnas.
Former Cliftonville striker Ronan Hale took his tally for the campaign to eight when he converted a first-half penalty as Ross County remain winless following their 1-1 Scottish Championship draw at Morton.
In League One, midfielder Cameron McGeehan was among the scorers as Northampton Town defeated Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at home to make five wins in their last six games in all competitions.
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Conor Hazard kept a clean sheet in his first league outing of the season as Plymouth Argyle put four past bottom of the table Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium.
Argyle boss Tom Cleverley said the return of the 27-year-old, who had been sidelined since picking up a knee injury in Northern Ireland’s defeat in Denmark in June, was a “huge plus” for his side.
“The last league game we looked like we lacked leadership on the pitch, so he (Hazard) brings that,” Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon. “It was always going to be a physical game, a direct game here, and when you're six foot six you help there.
“It was the game for Conor to come back in. I thought he was excellent; he brought those things that we've been missing.”
Meanwhile, in the Premier League, Conor Bradley was replaced at half-time as Liverpool lost 2-1 at Selhurst Park to Crystal Palace, for whom Justin Devenny came on as a last-minute substitute.
Trai Hume started for Sunderland and Daniel Ballard came on as a second half substitute as the Black Cats moved into third in the table after a 1-0 success against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
In the Championship, Brodie Spencer, Isaac Price, Ethan Galbraith and Shea Charles all completed ninety minutes for their respective clubs while winger Paul Smyth returned from injury to play the final fifteen minutes of QPR’s draw at Sheffield Wednesday.
Northern Ireland under-21 striker Rio Oundie-Morgan, who joined Billericay Town on loan from Ipswich Town last week, made his debut for the Isthmian League outfit as they drew 0-0 in their FA Cup tie at Hednesford Town on Saturday.
Finally, Danielle Maxwell scored a brace and Louise McDaniel was also on target as Burnley Women emphatically beat fierce rivals Blackburn Rovers 13-0 in the FAWNL Cup.
