DORCHESTER TOWN 2
Gwengwe 6, 56 pen
HARROW BOROUGH 2
Muhemba 17, R Mitchell 90+9
TEN-MAN Dorchester Town conceded a 99th-minute equaliser as Harrow Borough twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at the Avenue Stadium.
Shaq Gwengwe headed Dorchester in front six minutes in but Excellence Muhemba cancelled his goal out just 11 minutes later.
Dorchester continued to create chances but received a first-half red card when Leighton Thomas was alleged to have kicked out at an opponent.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Dorchester retook the lead when Gwengwe won and converted a penalty.
READ MORE: Dorchester Town 2-2 Harrow Borough - how it happened
However, Harrow threw men forward during eight minutes of added time and, with the clock spilling into a ninth, Reece Mitchell grabbed a priceless equaliser for the Reds.
The Magpies were incensed at the amount of time added on, part of the sport’s new rules on added time first seen at the World Cup in Qatar last year.
Teams and players up and down the country have expressed concerns about the new regulations, but Dorchester will feel their consequence more keenly than most, ruining a brave performance.
Dorchester boss Glenn Howes made two changes to the starting XI that began the 3-2 loss at Merthyr last weekend.
Ollie Haste missed out completely, while Callum Buckley dropped to the bench.
In came Olaf Koszela to start as part of a front three, with Tiago Sa drafted into the defence.
There were three changes on the bench as Jamie Hosking, Jake Graziano and Buckley took seats in the dugout.
Benjani Jr and Ieuan Turner kept their places, but there was no spot for the unavailable Lewis Toms.
Dorchester were looking for a fourth consecutive win over Harrow, having completed the double over them last season.
And the omens appeared in their favour in the sixth minute as Gwengwe put the hosts ahead.
The Magpies constructed a pleasing-on-the-eye move involving Alex Moyse and Jordi Barnett, releasing Koszela on the wing.
His cross begged Gwengwe to head home and the striker did just that, beating Harrow keeper Tyler Tobin with aplomb.
The sides then traded shots as Harrow blasted wide in response before Tobin this time kept out a Gwengwe header, teed up by Louie Slough’s header across goal.
Harrow equalised with their attack, though, much to Dorchester’s annoyance.
They felt a foul should have been awarded for a foul on Lewis Waterfield in the box but play continued and Muhemba slotted into the bottom corner past Lloyd Thomas.
As the sides adjusted to the scoreline, there was a paucity of chances for the next quarter of the match but Dorchester ended the half well on top.
Koszela lashed against the side-netting from Waterfield’s cross, while Leighton Thomas blazed over and Jack Wright headed wide.
Harrow also had the ball in the back of the net, ruled out for offside, before the red card incident.
After tangling with Harrow right-back Barsa Mirtahmasebi near the halfway line, Thomas allegedly kicked out at the defender.
The incident was seen by the officials, who deemed it serious enough to brandish a red card to the Cayman Islands international.
Referee Paul Barber also booked Dorchester assistant James Wood as tempers flared in the aftermath.
Dorchester channelled their frustrations superbly though, retaking the lead 11 minutes into the second half.
Gwengwe was upended in the box and the striker dusted himself down for the resulting penalty before finding the right corner for 2-1 and his third goal in two games.
Dorchester rang the changes throughout the half and stifled Harrow until the closing stages when Lloyd Thomas made a good save and then suffered a nervy moment when Harrow charged down his goal-kick, to no harm.
Eight minutes of added time were called for and Harrow needed every one and more to equalise as Mitchell pounced from ten yards, side-footing home to spark bedlam and disbelief on the respective benches.
Magpies: Ll Thomas, Waterfield, Sa, Slough, Ngalo, Wright, Barnett (Graziano 73), Moyse, Le Thomas, Gwengwe (Benjani Jr 64), Koszela (Turner 84). Subs not used: Hosking, Buckley.
Harrow: Tobin, Mirtahmasebi, Miskin, Mbele (C Mitchell 81), Yorke, Vernal, Muhemba, Ibrahim (Nyarko 71), Cameron (Walters 57, Talla, R Mitchell. Subs not used: Ferreira da Paiva, Poley.
Referee: Paul Barber.
Attendance: 408
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