Glen Johnson's 85th minute winner gave Willington Quay Saints all three points as they came back from a goal down to defeat nine men Forest Hall.
The Quay welcomed back Micky Young, Ryan Ferrier and Kane Chirnside back into the starting eleven whilst Chad Dalby was handed his first Saints start at left back there was also a welcome return on the bench for club veteran Andy Duffield, Stephen King making his 200th appearance for the Saints was handed the captains armband to mark the occasion.
The game kicked off in strong winds and it was the Saints who threatened first as Andy Breheny beat the offside trap but after he cut inside his marker he curled his shot over the bar
Forest Hall were finding it hard against the wind and Kane Chirnside should of made them pay as he raced onto a long ball that looked to be heading to the keeper but his first time shot sailed wide of the post when it looked like he was certain to score.
Youngster Dalby was a constant threat for the Quay down the left hand side and after his mazy run won a corner the resulting kick caused panic in the forest hall area, the ball falling agonizingly close to the goal line before it was hacked away by a Forest defender.
The visitors only chance of note in the first half saw a great through ball find their left winger through on goal but Saints stopper Carl Mcguire was quick off his line to bravely save and keep the game scoreless at the break.
While the Quay didnt take advantage of the wind in the first half Forest Hall took just fifteen minutes of the second half to make it count as a through ball found Matty Smith and after spotting Mcguire off his line he brilliantly chipped the ball into the top corner from 30 yards to give the away side the lead.
The Saints were pressed into action and a minute later grabbed an immediate reply through club captain Mark Henderson, Another corner for the Quay caused more drama in the box and when Forest Hall failed to clear Henderson pounced to grab his first goal in a year with a powerful strike that was deflected in past the helpless keeper.
With the Saints on top Forest Hall then began to self implode as they had two players sent off within five minutes of second half madness, First their left back was dismissed for throwing a punch at Micky Austin after a coming together and then after Chirnside was cynically hacked down as he raced clean through on goal by a defender the referee was left with no other choice but to produce the red card for a second time.
The Quay poured men forward looking to expose the two man advantage and were the width of the post away from going ahead but Ferrier somehow managed to hit the post with the goal gaping after Breheny's shot was only parried by the Forest keeper.
With five minutes left the Saints got their winner, Captain for the day King went on a run beating three defenders before curling in a wonderful cross that Quay top scorer Glen Johnson met with a fine glancing header that beat the keeper and nestled into the corner for his twelfth goal of the season.
The nine men of Forest Hall weren't finished and they bravely went forward looking to grab a draw and in the dying seconds they went perilously close as a monstrous long throw in flew into the Saints penalty box and was cleared form underneath the crossbar by Henderson with Smith just about to head in his second of the game.
A scrappy game spoiled by the wind but a valuable three points for the Quay as they showed good character to bounce back from last weeks hammering and going a goal down in this game albeit aided by the indiscipline of the Forest Hall side.
