A GOAL deep into injury time earned Penryn Athletic three valuable Carlsberg SWL points and hauled them back off the foot of the table.

Newquay are also a side struggling for survival in the lower reaches of the league and victory for Athletic took them to within one point of their visitors and Callington.

Athletic had to make a number of changes to their line-up with Shane D'Cotta being called into the side in place of the injured Dave Wilkinson and Paul Kneebone being recalled in place of the unavailable Damon Mulready. Andy Trathen and Darren Martin were also included on the bench.

The first chance for Athletic came as early as the second minute with goalkeeper Dave Wilton finding himself in a spot of bother after Adam Trudgian won a tackle. The ball squirted up into the air and goalwards, but fortunately for the Peppermints a defender managed to get back and clear the ball off the line.

Newquay hit back with a shot by Damien Dyer, but Andy Avery kept the effort out after getting down well to make the save.

Athletic created a great chance in the 18th minute when Darren Burchell sent a superb diagonal crossfield pass to Trudgian who knocked the ball into the path of D'Cotta. Wilton did well to rush out and narrow the angle to force a hurried shot which went the wrong side of the upright.

Athletic survived an anxious moment in the 25th minute when Jodi Dean's shot was parried away by Avery. The loose ball ran into the path of Luke Weldhen, but again Avery did well to save the follow-up shot.

Eight minutes before half-time Athletic broke the deadlock when Burchell put Trudgian into space. After riding a tackle he played the ball into Jamie Thirkle who took the ball to the by-line and cut in before hitting a stinging drive across the face of the goal for Steve Proctor to score with a shot that went in off a post.

The second half saw Newquay attempt to step up the pressure on Athletic and for the first 20 minutes had the home side penned in their half.

Athletic appeared to be coping well, but in the 67th minute they almost conceded an equaliser when they somehow survived a goalmouth scramble after avery had beaten out a shot.

Five minutes later the goal Newquay had been threatening duly arrived when James Olsen opened up Athletic's defence and delivered a cross into the six-yard box. It looked like the chance was not going to be taken, but Weldhen managed to slide in and turn the ball back into the net with one sweeping move.

Lee Oldfield came on for Williams and Darren Martin replaced Proctor as Athletic attempted to step up their attacking options.

Avery again did well to beat out a shot and as the game swept to the other end Wilton stormed off his line to deny D'Cotta in a race for the ball.

The game was destined for a dramatic finish and three minutes into time added on it was Athletic who provided the fireworks. Justin Miles, who had a fine game in midfield, won possession and exchanged passes with Trudgian who cut in across the Newquay box and lashed in a terrific 25-yard shot that flew into the top corner of the net. Wilton knew where the ball was going, but he was powerless to do anything about it.

It was the ideal tonic for Athletic who are now back with a cluster of clubs all trying to escape

Atheltic: A Avery, S Jewell, J Thirkle, A Pook, R Williams, P Kneebone, D Burchell, J Miles, S D'Cotta, A Trudgian, S Proctor. Subs: L Oldfield, D artin, J Pook, A Trathen.