EIGHT goals were shared between Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police and Bovey Tracey in a game of the season contender in the Peninsula Premier East last night.

Stoke led 3-0 and 4-1 at the Speedwell KIA Stadium but the visitors launched a late fightback to make it 4-4 – before nearly nicking it at the death.

Bovey went close with 12 minutes gone when centre-half Ryan O’Callaghan rattled the woodwork. Two minutes later Sean Finch had the ball in the net only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.

Halfway through the first period the game got its opening goal. New Stoke signing Tornado Bello sent Rhys Williams the wrong way from the spot after the keeper had brought down the former Barnstaple striker. Williams escaped with only a caution.

Ten minutes before the break and Bello would get his second of the night, getting in behind the Bovey defence and dinking the ball over Williams.

And the second half was only five minutes old when the forward completed his hat-trick – Owen Coldwell receiving a push to the back to give Bello another chance from the spot which he didn’t waste.

Just before the hour Bovey found a route back into the game in spectacular fashion when Finn Roberts gave home stopper Lewis Rider no chance with a stunning strike from 30 yards.

But the three-goal lead was restored moments later when a deep cross was met by Coldwell who side-footed in a well-deserved effort.

Bovey substitute Emiljano Mucaj beat the offside trap to reduce the arrears with 15 minutes left to play – and when the unusually quiet Finch headed in two minutes later Bovey were right back in it.

Referee Luke McFarlane pointed to the spot for a third time 10 minutes from the end when a high foot from Stoke’s Nelson Diepriye caught Cliff Walters.

Finch made no mistake to set up a breathless final 10 minutes, despite Rider getting a hand to the spot kick.

A moment of magic from the man between Stoke’s sticks stopped them from falling behind with 89 minutes played.

Lewis Perring’s effort from inside the six yard box looked destined for the bottom corner, but somehow the goalkeeper managed to reach down to his left and claw the ball away.

The drama wasn’t done there either, as Bello was sent clean through at the other end only to be hauled back by a dubious looking flag from the linesman on the far side.

And Walters would see the final chance to snatch Bovey the points go begging as he somehow directed a pinpoint cross wide from two yards out.

Once everyone had caught their breath, Bovey Tracey joint manager Micky Hunt explained that while his side showed character to fight back, he would be leaving the South Hams unsatisfied.

‘I am buzzing with the fact we were 4-1 down and came back to 4-4,’ said Hunt. ‘The lads have shown great character and tremendous desire to do that. We’ll definitely take a point.

‘But we had a great point on Saturday [2-2 away at Axminster] and I said to the lads afterwards that I wanted to build on that.

‘I set them a target of six points this week, so it’s a little bit disappointing to fall short of that by not winning here.’

With Elburton Villa set to visit Coach Road on Friday night (7.30pm), Hunt knows exactly what he wants to see from his players.

‘We want a reaction from tonight’s performance,’ he revealed. ‘I believe they have a new manager and a few new players so it’ll definitely be a tough game.’

As for Hunt’s opposite number, Stoke boss Dennis Perry highlighted the late offside decision as one which ultimately cost his side.

‘We should’ve had a fifth, really,’ he said. ‘Our player ran from his own half past two defenders to take the ball and somehow he was given offside. That would’ve been game over.

‘At 4-1 I kept shouting for everyone to hold their shape but we conceded two sloppy goals – and their first one was a worldy so you’re never going to stop that.

‘As a manager the result isn’t necessarily pleasing, but it’s another point on the board and you have to take the positives from that.

‘The performances have been getting better over the past two weeks and things are moving in the right direction.

‘I’ve brought in a couple of new additions, who I think have made a huge difference both on the pitch and to the team spirit.’

One of those new signings is Bello, a proven goalscorer who Perry says has now made Stoke Gabriel his footballing home.

‘He’s with us full-time now,’ Perry added. ‘I got him and centre-back Tyler [Yendle] from Barnstaple. We needed a target man who’s going to score goals every game and he certainly proved his ability to do that tonight.’

Stoke travel away to face Torrington this Saturday (3pm), before entertaining Newton Abbot Spurs next Tuesday evening (7.30pm).