A DRAMATIC own goal in the last seconds of play handed Soham Town Rangers an unlikely 3-2 win over high-flyers Hitchin Town on Tuesday night (Dec 8).Though the Greens looked down and out after just 20 minutes as the visitors stormed into a 2-0 lead, grim

A DRAMATIC own goal in the last seconds of play handed Soham Town Rangers an unlikely 3-2 win over high-flyers Hitchin Town on Tuesday night (Dec 8).

Though the Greens looked down and out after just 20 minutes as the visitors stormed into a 2-0 lead, grim determination and a few moments of inspiration turned the game on its head and ultimately secured Ian Benjamin's men the most unlikely of wins.

The game itself started ominously for the Greens as second-placed Hitchin quickly seized control of proceedings. Industrious midfielder Ieuan Lewis proved a particular menace to the home defence and it was Lewis' turn and volley from 12 yards that afforded the visitors the lead after 17minutes .

The Greens have been increasingly guilty in recent weeks of losing concentration when they have fallen behind, and so it proved again on this occasion as Hitchin quickly doubled their lead. Debutant striker Harry Hunt helping himself to the simplest of goals after a speculative long ball pierced the Soham back-line.

With their lead a comfortable one, the visitors contented themselves with retaining possession and containing fleeting Soham attacks, but the move proved an injudicious one as, four minutes from time, midfield talisman Michael Simpson popped up unmarked in the Hitchin box to nod home.

Soham's goal was the ideal tonic for a forgettable first-half and the momentum gained from Simpson's header carried over into the early stages of the second-half as the Greens sought to forge forward.

Wideman Deakan Napier was a typically lively prospect and his opposite number Tom Pepper struggled to contain the movement of the in-form midfielder.

For all their promise however, Soham remained vulnerable in defence and but for some alert work on the goal-line from Scott Johnson, Lewis may well have sealed the points just after the hour mark as he met a floated cross.

The equaliser came after 74 minutes as Napier managed to dispossess a defender, before setting off on a darting run that was exquisitely ended with a curled effort from outside the box.

As the game moved towards the latter stages both sides had chances to clinch a win, with Hitchin's Lewis denied by the bar following a drilled effort.

Despite finding themselves exposed on several occasions, it was Soham who ultimately emerged with the points as Hitchin captain Dean Gilbert inexplicably sliced Charles Libam's cross into his own net with just seconds left on the clock, sparking delirium amongst home fans.

The win sees The Greens move on to 17 points from their 18 games.