Video: Gust of wind assists most bizarre own goal ever recorded

A Thurrock defender’s attempted clearance saw the ball loop back thanks to the wind

Defenders scoring own goals is a pretty common sight in football. Ask Jamie Carragher. The former Liverpool defender has put the ball in the back of his own net seven times in the Premier League.

But most own goals are scored from unlucky deflections or mix-ups inside the box. But this match in Isthmian League Division One North saw something of a freak own goal being scored.

On a windy night in Romford, Thurrock FC scored one of the most outrageously bizarre own goals ever recorded. There was no deflection, no pass back to the goalkeeper to cause a mix-up, no mistake on the part of the player. The culprit in this instance? The wind!

All Thurrock defender Kamarl Duncan was trying to do was clear the ball and send it up field. But as soon as the ball reaches a certain height, a gust of wind picks it up and blows it back into his own half. Reports said the wind speed at the time had almost touched 70 mph.

As the ball sailed back, players from both side are also seen scrambling back to get on the end of Duncan’s failed long ball. The ball bounces once outside the box and it looks like goalkeeper Rhys Madden has it under control (back pass, anyone?).

But the keeper has misjudged it as well. Just as he tries to punch it clear, the ball bounces over him and all he can do is get a slight touch before it ends up in the back of the net, much to the Romford players’ delight and Thurrock players’ frustration at such a freak goal.

Even Thurrock manager Mark Stimson couldn’t quite believe what he had seen and said after the game, “Romford's goal was something you can only describe after seeing.”