GOSPORT BOROUGH 2

Tarbuck 60, Williams 68 pen

DORCHESTER TOWN 2

Waterfield 86, Haste 90+7

OLLIE Haste scored a dramatic 97th-minute equaliser as Dorchester Town came back from 2-0 down to earn a point at league leaders Gosport Borough.

Dorchester had enjoyed the better of the first half and saw three good chances go to waste.

Predictably, Gosport looked to have punished them as ex-Magpies midfielder Brad Tarbuck and Rory Williams put Boro 2-0 up.

But substitute Lewis Waterfield netted in the 86th minute before having another effort ruled out for offside, setting the stage for Haste's remarkable leveller.

READ MORE: Gosport Borough 2-2 Dorchester Town - how it happened

It was a first point for Dorchester boss Tom Killick, who gave debuts to goalkeeper Adam Forster and versatile right-back Drew Eccott-Young, both new signings, prior to kick-off.

Forster joins on dual registration from Vanarama National League South side Bath City and has experience at Gloucester, Paulton Rovers, Yate and Beaconsfield.

Eccott-Young was part of the Hamworthy United side that reached the FA Vase semi-finals in 2022.

The right-back, who can also play in midfield, arrives at the Avenue from Hamworthy, where he won the Hammers Young Player of the Season last year.

Eccott-Young also featured for Eastleigh's Elite Development Side.

They were Dorchester’s only two changes to the team that began the 3-1 FA Trophy defeat at Merthyr Town on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Lloyd Thomas was missing from the squad completely, while Jake Graziano dropped to the bench.

Ieuan Turner did not retain his squad berth with Waterfield, Lewis Toms, Benjani Jr and Louie Slough forming Dorchester's other options from the dugout.

Olaf Koszela (concussion) was still not fit enough while Jack Dickson was theoretically available after suspension, only to be overlooked.

Leaders Gosport came into the clash having conceded just six goals from ten games but their defence was severely tested by the spirited Magpies in the first half.

After a cagey start, Dorchester captain Jordan Ngalo got the ball rolling with an interception from Corey Jordan before working Portsmouth loanee keeper Toby Steward into a low save.

Shaq Gwengwe was the next Magpie to venture into enemy territory but his cut-back was well anticipated by the Gosport defence.

Dorchester were really taking the game to Gosport and their next effort on target came courtesy of Will Spetch, the centre-half heading at Steward from a corner.

Seconds later, Gosport came the closest of either side to scoring as a break featuring a number of incisive passes enabled Dave Tarpey to shoot, forcing the attentive Eccott-Young into a superb goalline clearance.

With the match opening up, Gwengwe forced Steward into his third stop of the night on 35 minutes before the striker teed up Spetch, only for the ex-Poole man to drag wide.

Dorchester were also denied a penalty moments before the break when Gwengwe and Alex Moyse exchanged passes and the former went down in the box, the Magpies’ appeals falling on deaf ears.

Gosport managed to stem the tide of Dorchester chances in the second half and then took the lead on the hour.

Former Magpies and Portsmouth winger Tarbuck was the scorer, collecting possession inside the area and sending a composed finish beyond Forster for 1-0.

Eight minutes later and Dorchester were undeservedly 2-0 down as Gosport won and converted a penalty, Williams this time beating Forster from the spot.

Killick switched Jordi Barnett and Moyse for Waterfield and Slough respectively as the Magpies chased a way back into the game during the final 15 minutes.

They duly found a route back when Waterfield, only nine minutes after coming on, finally ended Steward’s resistance with a neat turn and close-range finish to bag his first goal of the season.

His strike came in the 86th minute and, with six added minutes to come, Dorchester suddenly found themselves with ten minutes to claim an equaliser.

It nearly came when Spetch touched on a ball into the box and Haste lashed wide of Steward’s upright in the 91st minute.

Waterfield then produced a neat finish from a ball drilled into the box, only for his goal to be ruled out for offside.

Dorchester looked to be going away empty-handed when the clock ticked into a seventh added minute, until the Magpies won a corner.

As the delivery came in, Haste pounced with a header to send the visitors into bedlam in the stands on the touchline and secure a point the Magpies thoroughly merited.

Dorchester next travel to Hendon on Saturday, October 21 (3pm).

Gosport: Steward, Kavanagh, Tarbuck, Wassmer, Cumberbatch (Ramos 55), Wooden, Tarpey, Jordan, Williams, Rew (Efedje 84), Hollands.

Magpies: Forster, Eccott-Young, Haste, Moyse (Slough 68), Ngalo, Foot, Barnett (Waterfield 77), Moore, Le Thomas, Gwengwe, Spetch. Subs not used: Toms, Graziano, Benjani Jr.

Referee: Martin Bloor.

Attendance: 636.