ARTHURLIE clinched the most unlikely of draws when they came from two goals down with five minutes left against Auchinleck Talbot.

The Barrhead side stunned the title-chasing reigning league champions Talbot at Beechwood Park on Saturday to rescue a draw which boosts their survival battle.

Arthurlie started brightly and went on the attack from the first whistle. Two minutes in, Darren Gribben latched on to a ball over the top before crossing low to the front post, Gary Carroll timed his run to perfection but his effort was saved by Leishman.

The home side had their first effort when good work from Young released Wilson but his shot was easily taken by Michael White. Talbot started to come more into the game now but it was Arthurlie who had the next sniff of goal.

A free-kick on the halfway line was sent into the danger area by Gavin Rushford but the header from Ryan McGregor went straight into the hands of a relieved Leishman.

The Barrhead side couldn’t find the goal they deserved and the sides went in after a goalless first half.

Whatever manager Tommy Sloan had to say to his charges at the break seemed to have an effect as straight from the restart they carved open the Arthurlie defence and Wilson found himself unmarked on the six yard line but the striker somehow managed to scoop the ball over the bar.

The black and gold waves of attack continued and it was no surprise when they went ahead. A ball down the left was cut across the Arthurlie area where Milliken was lurking and he fired the ball home to open the scoring.

Wilson went close again five minutes later as Arthurlie looked in danger of being overrun and then it got worse for the Barrhead side.

Lie had a free kick on the edge of the box but it came to nothing. Milliken gathered on the left and raced upfield before crossing to the back post where Wilson dived to head past White.

With 20 minutes left and a two-goal deficit against Auchinleck, many teams would have folded but Lie manager Steve Kerrigan made what turned out to be an inspired double substitution.

Chris Mackie and Rhys Devlin made way for Eddie McTernan and Craig Young, soon after Steven Tart came on for Scott Gair.

With just five minutes to go it looked like a lost cause but someone forgot to tell the Arthurlie players. Palmer did well to win a high ball and Gribben played a great ball inside to McGregor who took one touch before hitting the ball low into the corner to reduce the deficit.

As the clock ticked to 88 minutes Ian Nimmo gathered just inside the Talbot half and he ran at the heart of the home defence skipping past tackle after tackle, before being challenged inside the box. When the ball broke, Young and McTernan both went for it but it was Young who got there first and fired home the most unlikely of equalisers.

Barrhead News man of the match, Palmer never lost a challenge all day while Carroll’s running caused the home defence no end of problems but Gavin Rushford was at his best and bossed the home forwards for the entire game.

Arthurlie: White, McGlinchey, Palmer, Rushford, Gair, Nimmo, McGregor, Devlin, Mackie, Gribben, and Carroll. Subs: McTernan, Blakey, Tart, Young, Nugent.