Liskeard Athletic 4 Millbrook 4

Millbrook scored twice in the last four minutes to salvage a vital point from a thrilling promotion battle at Lux Park on Tuesday night.

Liskeard looked set to go top of Carlsberg South West Peninsula League division one west on goal difference as they led 4-2 with top scorer James Lorenz bagging all four goals.

But third-placed Millbrook reduced the arrears in the 88th minute through Ryan Knight, who completed a remarkable hat-trick of penalties.

And two minutes into time added on, striker Lewis Kersham was allowed time to turn inside the six yard box and scramble the ball over the line to spark wild Millbrook celebrations.

In a match between the division’s top two scoring teams, Lorenz rewarded a lively opening by Liskeard with a 20th minute opener, running on to a long ball from Jack Podmore and firing into an unguarded net with the Millbrook keeper left flat-footed by one of his posts.

But Millbrook equalised with the first of Knight’s penalties on the half hour after the referee saw a push by Adam King at a corner which nobody else appeared to spot.

Millbrook thought they had taken the lead in the 38th minute with a long range free kick from Knight which appeared to go straight into the net. But a linesman flagged for offside, telling the referee that he had seen a Millbrook player get a touch to the free kick.

But in the next minute it was 2-1 to Millbrook with Knight’s second spot kick, this time after a clear cut trip by Dylan Peel on Kershaw.

Millbrook seemed likely to go in to the half-time break with a lead but in the last seconds of the half they allowed Lorenz time and space to drive in an equaliser.

And the prolific striker put Liskeard 3-2 ahead four minutes into the second half, as Millbrook appealed in vain for offside.

There was no doubt about Lorenz’s fourth goal in the 71st minute as he broke clear from the halfway line. He appeared to be caught up with by two Millbrook defenders but they collided with each other and fell to the ground, allowing Lorenz to make it 4-2.

That should have been game over but Millbrook continued to press and with the aid of some naïve Liskeard defending on the edge of the penalty area, were awarded their third penalty of the game after King tripped substitute Justin Notman, and Knight made no mistake.

It gave Millbrook a lifeline as the game entered four minutes of time added on and they grabbed it in the second minute as a mad scramble around the six yard box ended with Kershaw forcing the ball into the net.

Liskeard: J Gilbert, A King, S Gilbert, J Podmore, D Peel, M Thorp, J Woods (H Southcott 71), J Lorenz, S Rogers (T Cleveland 71), R Cleveland, B Collins. Subs not used: A Gregory, L Webber.

Goals: J Lorenz (20, 45+1. 49 & 71).

Yellow cards: S Rogers (27), A King (31), T Cleveland (85).

Millbrook: K Andrejenko, J Richards, D Lorimer, J Wood, R Tetley (J Toulson 77), T Hall (L Murray 74), J Foster, D Gilbert, J Cooke (J Notman 84), L Kershaw, R Knight. Sub not used: Z Pearce.

Goals: R Knight (31, 39, 88, all pens), L Kershaw (90+2).

Yellow cards: J Richards (14), J Cooke (55), T Hall (57), J Wood (59).

Referee: Ryan Cornelius.

Cornish Times Man of the Match: James Lorenz – four goals from the red hot Liskeard striker.