PAPILLON, Neb. – Forward Madison FC kept its slim postseason hopes alive as it held on in dramatic fashion late to take a 2-1 victory against Union Omaha on Wednesday night at Werner Park behind a pair of goals by Trinidad and Tobago international Josiah Trimmingham.

The visitors almost grabbed an early lead in just the second minute when Ryan Sierakowski was denied by a fine save from Omaha goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu, and then midway through the first half Trimmingham hit the crossbar as his strong downward header off a corner kick by Aaron Molloy from the right caromed hard off the turf and into the woodwork and was cleared to safety by the Omaha defense.

Omaha had a good chance late in the first half as a low shot from long range by Conor Doyle to the right corner was turned away by Phil Breno, but nine minutes into the second half the Flamingos struck first. A cross from the right found Sierakowski just outside the six-yard area, and while Nuhu was able to deny his effort, Trimmingham followed up to hammer home from close range on the rebound.

Four minutes later the Trinidadian struck with a brilliant finish as he capitalized on a loose pass in the Omaha half to gain possession 25 yards from goal, quickly picked up his head and chipped a delightful finish over the goalkeeper and into the net.

Union turned up the pressure in the final 20 minutes and Breno made a fine reflex save to keep out Greg Hurst from close range in he 72nd minute. Evan Conway then went close for the hosts four minutes later when his shot from the left side of the penalty took a deflection off a sliding defender and looped past Breno but clipped the top of the crossbar and went behind for a corner kick.

Los Buhos pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with a minute to go after Hurst was brought down in the penalty area, and he himself stepped up to shoot high into the top-left corner past the dive of Breno to halve the deficit, but the Madison goalkeeper had the final say as first in the sixth minute of stoppage time he made a one-on-one save to keep out Conway after his defense had failed to clear its lines, and then from the ensuing corner kick kept out a powerful strike from the right side by Damia Viader with a diving save before his defense cleared to safety to clinch the three points.

Omaha will remain at home on Saturday night as it takes on the Richmond Kickers at Werner Park at 7 p.m. ET, while Madison will return home to play host to FC Tucson at Breese Stevens Field at 8 p.m. ET for their penultimate games of the season.

USLLeagueOne.com Player of the Match

Josiah Trimmingham, Forward Madison FC – Trimmingham provided both goals for the visitors, including a delightful chip for his second, and also hit the crossbar among six shots overall for the game.

Goal Summary

MAD (54’) – Trimmingham
MAD (58’) – Trimmingham
OMA (89’) – Hurst (penalty kick)