The all-time great 'sickener' goals you've seen your team concede...

[Wooderson]

So after 10-man Exeter's last-kick winner on Saturday in a game where we're absolutely desperate for the points - a goal that was greeted with stunned silence by the home fans - I started thinking about the great sickeners I've seen us concede over the years. The ones that leave you properly speechless, sat there shaking your head, invoking utter despair. Been loads at Notts down the years, but these stand out for me:

April 1994 - Derby County 1-1 Notts. A huge Tuesday night promotion clash at the Baseball ground just four games before the end of the (now) Championship season. We go into it in 6th, just a point behind our big-spending East Midlands rivals (who include two players bought from us for a total of almost £4m, Tommy Johnson and Craig Short) - and a win would actually put us 3rd. After a tense encounter, Mark Draper beat the office trap to put us ahead in the 79th minute with a brilliant header from 10 yards, and we looked set to claim a memorable and vital win in our quest for promotion to the Premier League.

But as the game entered stoppage time, Derby tried one more hopeful punt upfield. No worries, though - the defence has it covered and no-nonsense Dutch left-back Meindert Dijkstra just has to nod the ball back into keeper Steve Cherry's hands, or stick it in row Z. Instead, in a catastrophic moment of miscommunication, Cherry comes off his line slightly and Dijkstra heads it OVER him and into the empty for a devastating OG. It ends 1-1, we drop to 7th, and fail to win again for the rest of the season. The next year we finish bottom and are relegated - and have never troubled the 2nd tier since. A lot of Notts fans credit the goal as our 'what if' moment - the thought of it still sickens me 25 years on. Pretty sure I cried all the way home.

You can watch the sorry episode here:

That's the big one, but I'd also include an 87th minute winner for Havant and Waterloovile at Meadow Lane in 2007 in the FA Cup 2nd round. The unpopular Lee Canoville gave the ball away on the halfway line and a Havant striker raced clear to score the only goal. They were Conference South at the time.

And who could forget the last day of the 2014/15 season? Notts away at mid-table Gillingham needing a win to stay up. Incredibly, Graham Burke puts us ahead early in the 2nd half in front of 2500 travelling fans and we look like completing an unlikely escape. But in the 88th minute a ball is swung into the box and John Egan rises highest to head past Roy Carroll and condemn us to the 4th tier. Gillingham add two more in injury time, but it doesn't matter. We're down anyway. Sickener!

I could also throw in a couple of Coventry's goals in last year's Play-Offs, but that will do for now.

What's yours? Youtube links if poss!

 

[Richard Cranium]

York at home in the play offs for me. No other goal I’ve ever seen scored against us hurt quite like that one.

 

[Luke Imp]

Probably Micky Boulding for Mansfield at our place, which gave them a 2-1 win in 2007/08. It was only end of January/beginning of February but I thought we were down after that game and Mansfield probably thought they'd be ok. As it turned out, we survived and Mansfield got relegated.

Or a Sam Wedgebury equaliser at Macclesfield in our relegation season 2010/11. Ben Hutchinson got sent off when we were winning 1-0, we then went down to 9 men because of an injury and the equaliser came with basically the last kick of the game.

 

[TimeyWimey]

‘Area final’ of the Johnstone’s Paint in 2007 at Doncaster. We went 2-0 up in the second leg against the odds. Doncaster staged a 20 minute come back in the second half, scoring the winner in the 90th minute when it looked destined for penalties. At the time we hadn’t been even close to a cup final in a decade and a trip to the Mill Stad appealed. Crewe fans are well used to seeing us bottling it in the last few minutes of games, but I was fucking devastated with that one. Didn’t help that Trevor Kettle had a nightmare, Jason Price is a cheat and it was actually one of the great injustices of modern time.

 

[Wooderson]

How could I forget - 2011, League Cup first round tie away at Forest, first time we’ve played them in years, 2-3 up in the last seconds of extra time when Wes Morgan of all people crashes in an upstoppable 30-drive off the underside of the bar in front of 6,000 Notts fans behind the goal. Went on to lose on penalties.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Another Jason Price goal is my sickener. When Millwall beat us in the last minute in 2009 I had a feeling we were destined for the drop.

Also Stoke scoring in the 90th minute equaliser against us only for us to miss an open net down the other end when I was a kid hurt a lot too at the time. Probably 2003 that was.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Huddersfield away, 2010 FA Cup replay, they were charging through League One and we were not up to much in the Conference, outplayed them, should have had their keeper sent off for wiping one of our players out 30 yards from goal in the first half, took the lead in the second half, then they scored two in added time to knock us out. They then proceeded to get Macclesfield and Dover at home before going to Arsenal.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Recently?

FGR in 16/17. Game where Lincoln pretty much wrapped up the title.

We had just beaten Solihull 9-0 and on another day would have beaten FGR by the same scoreline such was the dominance but we squandered endless chances and their centre backs were excellent.

In an ironic twist they’re the pair that have only conceded 2 goals in last 8 games for us.

 

[Dean]

Plymouth away in 2015, we looked doomed going into the game in a bleak postion with our football league status on the line.

We were three points adrift of safety with this the second to last game and had to match Hartlepools result to take it to the final day. Remember being in the 80th minute and Hartlepool were winning 2-1 and we were losing 2-1 which put us six points behind with one game to play meaning we were down.

Our fans were passing messages onto the players about needing to go for it and score two. Plymouth broke and scored a third and at that moment I knew it was over. There was no way we were scoring three or Hartlepool conceding two in the final few minutes.

What made it worse that win for Plymouth guaranteed their playoff position so they gloated in our faces. Worst place ever to be relegated, did some serious soul searching on the way home.

 

[The Southbank]

Fabian de Freitas scoring for Bolton to make it 4-2 in extra time in the Championship Play-off Final in 1995.

We had been 2-0 up at HT and missed a penalty. A late consolation made it a very dour 4-3 bottlejob.

 

[Vanni]

Huddersfield away, 2010 FA Cup replay, they were charging through League One and we were not up to much in the Conference, outplayed them, should have had their keeper sent off for wiping one of our players out 30 yards from goal in the first half, took the lead in the second half, then they scored two in added time to knock us out. They then proceeded to get Macclesfield and Dover at home before going to Arsenal.

I remember that game very well unfortunately but for some odd reason or other, I don't like to reminisce about the Wolves game even more. Was a couple of years before that I think.

 

[Vanni]

Off the top of my head, Torquay's second goal in the Conference play off final at Wembley back in 2009 was a real sickener. The year before that we were up against Exeter in the final but I wasn't confident at all going into that match and so it proved to be. The second time at Wembley against Torquay was a different matter entirely and I was so sure we were going to beat 'em. I still believed at 0-1 down and not playing particularly well but it was all over as soon as they got their second. I blame Gary Brabin

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Fabian de Freitas scoring for Bolton to make it 4-2 in extra time in the Championship Play-off Final in 1995.

We had been 2-0 up at HT and missed a penalty. A late consolation made it a very dour 4-3 bottlejob.

If we're going that far back. The 3rd your lot scored against us.

Absolutely criminal the side we had in that 4 year spell didn't make the Prem.

 

[The Southbank]

If we're going that far back. The 3rd your lot scored against us.

Absolutely criminal the side we had in that 4 year spell didn't make the Prem.

Yes, I was at that game as well. The first leg at Elm Park was dire but the second was very lively.

1994/95 was the only season where the team who finished 2nd (us) didn't get promoted automatically and had to go through the play-offs.

 

[Gerald Hattrick]

‘Area final’ of the Johnstone’s Paint in 2007 at Doncaster. We went 2-0 up in the second leg against the odds. Doncaster staged a 20 minute come back in the second half, scoring the winner in the 90th minute when it looked destined for penalties. At the time we hadn’t been even close to a cup final in a decade and a trip to the Mill Stad appealed. Crewe fans are well used to seeing us bottling it in the last few minutes of games, but I was fucking devastated with that one. Didn’t help that Trevor Kettle had a nightmare, Jason Price is a cheat and it was actually one of the great injustices of modern time.

Didn’t Higdon score an equaliser but then disallowed to make it worse...

 

[Imp in Branston]

One has got to be Palace away in the cup for me many years ago, can't remember which cup it was but we led 1-0 from the first leg at SB. The whole game we were expecting CP to score easily to level the tie and then go on to win, so the electronic scoreboard was often watched as we nervously ticked off another 5 minutes without conceding.

Then half time came and went, entered the second half scarcely believing we were still ahead. The final 45 was a nail bighting roller coaster until we got the fourth official indicating 6? minutes of injury time. The Palace fans were leaving in droves until Mr Gary Willard (RIP) managed to find an extra two minutes of time and of course they equalised to take the tie into extra time.

Was a huge sickener and we then conceded again in the extra 30 minutes to lose the tie. That's one huge reason why I didn't want Palace away again after being to Selhurst Park a few times already when we drew Everton.

 

[Andy Proctor]

I can remember one where Adrian littlejohn equalised for vale in the 90th minute at QPR to make it 2 2 then qpr went straight down the other end and scored think it was Jamie cureton. Also similar happened in 2010 at Oxford Gareth Owen equalised and vale fans were still chanting we are top of the league and Oxford were back in front again in injury time.

 

[valefan16]

I can remember one where Adrian littlejohn equalised for vale in the 90th minute at QPR to make it 2 2 then qpr went straight down the other end and scored think it was Jamie cureton. Also similar happened in 2010 at Oxford Gareth Owen equalised and vale fans were still chanting we are top of the league and Oxford were back in front again in injury time.

Was at the QPR one that was a sickener, led from the 1st minute then they got a couple but was a proper mental when Adrian Littlejohn scored only for them to run down and get the winner. Long trip home that.

Sheffield United in the cup though in 2012, leading into injury time, a good penalty shout turned down then they equalise in the 90th minute.... worse still we lost our heads and a minute later they won it.

Other notable mention Tottenham away, leading 1-0 into the last ten minutes they get a free kick miles out, Huddlestone punts it into the box,
Takes two deflections off Vale players and creeps in off the inside of the post, horrible goal considering Goodlad had one of the greatest keeping performances I have seen... once into extra time we tired and they won 3-1. That close to the quarters.

 

[Luke Imp]

I can remember one where Adrian littlejohn equalised for vale in the 90th minute at QPR to make it 2 2 then qpr went straight down the other end and scored think it was Jamie cureton. Also similar happened in 2010 at Oxford Gareth Owen equalised and vale fans were still chanting we are top of the league and Oxford were back in front again in injury time.

Adrian Littlejohn. What a name. Not so good a player.

He had a short spell here under KA but got rid of about 5 months into his contract.

 

[valefan16]

Adrian Littlejohn. What a name. Not so good a player.

He had a short spell here under KA but got rid of about 5 months into his contract.

He was decent for us to be fair and in a very good Vale team that came closest we’ve come to returning to the Championship level.

Sheffield Wednesday fans gave him real shit both times we played them so he scored in both games and taunted them... had a bit of a cult status with us.

Recall Oldham fans hated him after their keeper got injured in a collision and blamed him squarely for them bottling promotion!

 

[Pablosammy]

Can't get much worse for Tranmere fans than Aston Villa's 88th minute goal in the second leg of the league cup semi final back in 1994. We were 3-1 up from the first leg, and losing 2-1 on the night at Villa, so we were heading to Wembley. Their last gasp third put the game into extra time, and then penalties, where Bosnich saved Villa after a last-man incident where he arguably should have been sent off earlier in the game. We hit the inside of the post from a free kick minutes later to top it all off.

I was 11, I cried!

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Can't get much worse for Tranmere fans than Aston Villa's 88th minute goal in the second leg of the league cup semi final back in 1994. We were 3-1 up from the first leg, and losing 2-1 on the night at Villa, so we were heading to Wembley. Their last gasp third put the game into extra time, and then penalties, where Bosnich saved Villa after a last-man incident where he arguably should have been sent off earlier in the game. We hit the inside of the post from a free kick minutes later to top it all off.

I was 11, I cried!

Beat me to it. Absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Mark Bosnich should of been sent off. Also Villa’s goal in the 1st leg was controversial to say the least too!

 

[Wooderson]

Some great sickeners in here - keep em coming! Sadly I fear our all-time sickener may be yet to come...

 

[shoddycollins]

Leeds United's second goal at Brunton Park in the League One playoffs semi-final of 2007

We'd already endured a Mansfield-esque bottle job in the final month of the season to miss out on automatic promotion to the Championship, only 4 years after being relegated to the Conference, but had beaten Leeds 2-1 at Elland Road in the first leg. That game had seen Leeds pull one back deep into injury time, and now, at Brunton Park they had levelled the tie and were leading 1-0 going into injury time.

I can't remember if we'd come on stronger in the second half, or if it was just my own youthful naivety, but we were fairly optimistic that we'd beat them in extra time in front of our own fans, we'd already beaten them 3-1 at Brunton Park in the league.

Then Jonny Howson pops up with a goal to send Leeds to Wembley and leave us with the only the agonising thoughts of what might have been. Needless to say, we never came that close to promotion to the Championship again and the way football is going, maybe we never will.

Also, it probably goes without saying that Leeds fans are not gracious winners, so while I would never wish oblivion on another football club, I would be most happy if Leeds never win another trophy for the rest of eternity and become one of those clubs like Hartlepool that are just allergic to silver.

Closer to the present time, Jack Stacey's winner for Exeter at St James' Park in the League Two playoff second leg in 2017. We were never really in control of that tie and probably had it coming given the amount of late goals we'd scored against Exeter that season (won both league games with late goals, then scored late on to make it 3-3 in the first leg and again levelled the second leg late on only for them to score that winner.

Shrewsbury at Brunton Park in 2015 was also bad, though didn't have any real consequences as we avoided relegation so was soon forgotten. We were 1-0 up for pretty much the entire match, which would have been a great result against a team in the automatic places, only for them to go and score two injury time goals. The following season we made amends by inflicting the very same thing on Exeter, as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

 

[Agombar stool]

2 stick out, one which is only a vague memory and one which really really hurt at the time.

in 1994/1995 after the Premiership adventure, we suffered the ignominy of a second successive relegation. Somehow we also managed to get to the two-legged semi-final of the league cup, where we would face Bolton Wanderers. The reward was a final against Liverpool. We won the first leg 2-1, however John McGinley managed to get Mark Robinson sent off meaning he missed the second leg. This was to prove be crucial as Paul Bodin and Ian Culverhouse was already missing and so the defence was massively patched up.

Jan Fjortoft made it 3-1 on aggregate just before the hour and it looked like we were on the way to wembley. However Bolton equalised on 65 minutes and we fell apart. Paatelainen levelled it up and with 2 minutes to go and Swindon hanging on for extra time, the villain of the first leg John McGinley popped up to make it 4-3 on aggregate and put Bolton through to wembley. The McGinley factor making this one all the more sickening.

The goals from the game can be found here

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?MatchID=19950708

 

[Agombar stool]

The second sickener was in the 2003/2004 season when we played Brighton in the play-offs. We lost a close first leg 1-0 and travelled to the Withdean stadium more in hope rather than expectation.

With 10 minutes to go and the game finely poised, Super Sammy Parkin scored to put us 1-0 up and send the game into Extra Time. In the driving rain Rory Fallon put us ahead after 97 minutes and we then adopted a backs against the wall excercise without Brighton ever really looking like scoring.....that is until injury time on 120 minutes where Brighton had a throw in, Tommy Mooney fell asleep and Adam Virgo was left unmarked to net the sickening equaliser. Of course this was made doubly worse by us losing on penalties and we missed out on a play-off final against a poor Bristol City side, who we would have beaten.

I was watching from a pub in Edinburgh, where I lived at the time. I remember that one hurt, a lot!

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?MatchID=20040402

 

[Luke Imp]

Not a sickner as such because we were going well at the time, but we drew 2-2 with promotions rivals MK Dons in January 2007 at the National Hockey Stadium. Great game, I rocked up just as the players were lining up before the game, pissing it down, windy as anything and took my seat in the open square stand.

Live on Sky, 1-0 down early doors through McLeod, we then went 2-1 up in the second half (two quick goals from sub Spencer Weir-Daley, I think), MK got an injury time penalty and missed. Then RB Gareth Edds popped up in the LB position for some reason and managed to ping on in the bottom corner with his weak foot.

 

[Lborostag]

The 5th we conceded to Bristol City in 2002. We led 4-2 with 3 minutes left and managed to lose 5-4.
Rotherham scoring a bizarre halfway line goal to send us to the conference.
York in the conference playoff semi finals. We had gone on an amazing run, flying going into the playoffs then had Matt Green sent off for the ball nearly touching his hand. Lost in extra time in the 2nd leg.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Didn’t Higdon score an equaliser but then disallowed to make it worse...

He did didn’t he. I remember it being genuinely offside though, it was about the only descision Kettle got right that night and probably summed Higdon’s career up.

I also remember Dario having Stuart Tomlinson ready to come on for the penalties when the winner went in. I imagine that didn’t help our fragile mindset.

 

[Mark kavanagh]

Beat me to it. Absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Mark Bosnich should of been sent off. Also Villa’s goal in the 1st leg was controversial to say the least too!

I was gonna mention dalian Atkinsons goal in the first game after a terrible free kick decision that the ref apologised for later.

If things had turned out differently bruno Andrade 86th minute first half equaliser for borehamwood would have trumped it