SURELY what will go down as one of the games of the season across the Hellenic leagues was played out at The Meadowbank Stadium on Saturday afternoon, when two of the sides in the Div One West promotion race, Shortwood United (second) and Fairford Town (third), drew 4-4.

Uhlsport Hellenic Div One West

Shortwood United Res 4

Fairford Town 4

The visitors, missing several key players, came from behind on four occasions but secured a deserved point thanks to a leveller from James Eddy deep into injury-time. The game also saw a goal of the season by Adam Smith from just inside the Shortwood half.

The eight-goal score-fest began when Dan Wixey was on hand to side-foot the ball home early on after a cross had been spilled. Striker Sean McKeon, making his full debut, levelled the game up on 27 minutes, showing some neat footwork before squeezing the ball home.

Shortwood's response was almost immediate with experienced frontman Kevin Slack nudging the home side into the lead once again.

Ten minutes later came Smith's special. After a poor clearance from the home keeper Ashton Herbert, right-back Smith collected the ball on the halfway line and advanced a few paces before cracking an audacious effort which lobbed the retreating stopper and nestled into the back of the net.

Wild celebrations ensued but there was still time for a fifth goal to go in before the break when Sean Lawson found himself unmarked and headed home from close range to make it 3-2.

After the interval, McKeon wasted little time before tapping home his second of the afternoon to restore parity. After a good break down the right from Alex Rudd, he slid the ball across to McKeon, whose finish on 50 minutes had enough on it to make it 3-3.

Midway through the second period a defensive lapse from the visitors saw a long clearance from Herbert run through to Lawson who cracked home a fine finish for his second of the game.

Despite going 4-3 down, Fairford remained unbowed and chances came and went with time running out.

It was the deep into injury-time when Richie Carter's header back across goal from a corner came back off the bar with defender James Eddy was on hand to slam the ball home.