For all its highs, playing football can also be pretty unenjoyable at times. For example, if you are losing 5-1 and a man down with 27 minutes remaining, you could be forgiven for somewhat throwing in the towel.<\/p>\n
That was the situation Charlton Athletic were faced with against a Huddersfield Town side led by Bill Shankly at The Valley in the Second Division (now the Championship) four days before Christmas in 1957.<\/p>\n
Addicks captain Derek Ufton had been forced off with a dislocated shoulder in the opening stages with the score at 0-0 and taken to hospital for surgery. <\/p>\n
With no substitutes in those days, Charlton played on with 10 men and were on track for a hiding as they trailed by four goals. <\/p>\n
Some of the 12,535 crowd had already made an early exit. What happened next borders on inconceivable. <\/p>\n
John Ryan and Johnny Summers scored in quick succession for the hosts to reduce the deficit to 5-3 by the 64th minute.<\/p>\n
Summers then completed his hat-trick in the 73rd minute for 5-4 before netting his fourth to bring the scores level at 5-5 five minutes later.<\/p>\n
With 12 minutes still to play, the drama was not over. Summers scored his fifth and Charlton’s sixth to lead 6-5 in the 81st minute.<\/p>\n
Done and dusted? Think again. The Terriers equalised through Stan Howard with four minutes on the clock – 6-6.<\/p>\n
But in the 89th minute, Ryan sent a Summers cross past goalkeeper Sandy Kennon to seal a mind-blowing 7-6 win.<\/p>\n