Agony for Santos!

ACTION STATIONS: Santos's Andrew Wade gets stuck in.

Santos 3, Cheadle Hulme Athletic 4

SANTOS conceded two stoppage-time goals to throw away the points against Cheadle Hulme Athletic in Division Three of the Lancashire and Cheshire League at the Oldham Academy North.

Santos appeared to be on course for victory at the 90-minute mark with a 3-2 scoreline as the referee announced that there would be a further three minutes of added time.

What followed was complete and utter chaos in the Santos defence as Cheadle scored twice inside the last 60 seconds of that additional time.

DISCONSOLATE

And at the final whistle, I have never before seen such a disconsolate group of footballers - and no wonder.

Santos player-manager Alex Taylor, head bowed and although claiming to be speechless, said: "There was a lack of concentration and some poor decision making in that added time.

"I really am lost for words."

Santos defender Patrick Harwood summed up the mood perfectly and said: "A draw would have been a travesty, but to lose it is heartbreaking."

But what a game this was between two closely matched sides, both of whom exuded skill, pace and a necessary degree of physicality, not forgetting some cracking goals and top drawer saves.

It was Duffy who opened the scoring for Santos on 10 minutes with a clinical but cool finish from 16 yards, passing the ball into the net after receiving a delightful pass from Ryan McConkie.

Cheadle levelled after 37 minutes, but in an end-to-end encounter, Santos nosed themselves ahead again when Alex Taylor drilled the ball home from the tightest of angles.

The visitors equalised again with 20 minutes remaining, but when McConkie's strike made it 3-2 to Santos, all the home side had to do was determinedly hold on.

Easier said than done, as Cheadle stole victory with those two late, late strikes.

A plus for Santos was the return following a lengthy injury of Andrew Wade.

Santos got their title from the Brazilian club of the same name, but at the final whistle it was Cheadle who were dancing to the Samba beat.

SANTOS: Jackson, McDermott, Ormrod, Harwood, J Taylor, Harrison, Wade, Lambert, McConkie, Alex Taylor, Duffy. Subs: McCullum, Uren, Adam Taylor.

STAR MAN: Ryan McConkie (Santos) - Lovely touches throughout from the impish midfielder.