Elliott snatches draw for NI

Northern Ireland’s 12,000 home support went through every possible emotion last night after their national football team came away with a 3-3 draw against Austria at Windsor Park.

A 94th minute goal by Hill City’s Stuart Elliott saw Lawrie Sanchez’s men snatch a vital home point in a game Northern Ireland needed to win to keep up any hopes of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The province started the game well but it was the visitors who took the lead on 14 minutes following a crisp passing move which ended with Austrian captain Markus Schopp scoring from close range.

For the remainder of the first half it was all Northern Ireland however with both James Quinn and David Healy both going close before the Preston North End striker equalised on 35 minutes with a 25-yard wonder goal.

The Leeds-bound player picked up a pass from Jeff Whitley and in one swift motion flicked the ball up with his right foot before striking a crisp volley with his left.

It was a goal Wayne Rooney would remember and something the English media would surely hail as the ‘greatest’ goal ever if their wonder kid had scored it.

Northern Ireland pressure continued into the second half and it wasn’t before long that a reward came in the shape of central defender Colin Murdock who headed in a 60th minute corned from Damien Johnson.

Unfortunately for the home support this lead was short lived as straight from the kick off Austria broke down the right and Mayrleb beat Roy Carroll at the near post with a low shot.

Not long after Austria took the lead for a second time following a defensive mistake by Murdock who let in skipper Schopp to shoot high into the corner to Carroll's right.

The Windsor crowd went quiet and it looked as if all was lost, that is until the introduction of Elliott who popped up well into injury time to scoop home James Quinn’s flick on to send the home supporters into raptures.

Last night’s result moves Northern Ireland off the bottom of Group 6 to fourth place however they are now six points shy of second place Poland who now look in pole position to claim that spot behind leaders England - who Northern Ireland next face at Old Trafford in March.

(MB/GMCG)