Last gasp Tillson equaliser stuns title chasers

Jordan Tillson struck an equaliser deep in stoppage time to stun title-chasing Dorking Wanderers at Twerton Park this afternoon. The visitors had turned around a one-goal deficit at the interval to lead 2-1 but their time-wasting tactics first saw Taylor receive a second yellow card then, in the last of twelve additional minutes, Tillson stabbed home a corner to send the majority of the 1700+ crowd into rapture.

Dorking should have gone ahead in the opening minutes but Rutherford somehow contrived to crash a shot against the bar from six yards out. After this early let-off City slowly began to gain the upper hand and, on 20 minutes, Ewan Clark’s lofted ball forward sent Brad Ash clear to lift a shot over Foulkes into the net. Kieran Parselle and Ollie Tomlinson failed to get half-chances on target after this, then right on half-time a long throw found Scott Wilson unmarked at the far post but he could only direct his header over the bar.

Dorking upped the tempo after the interval though and on 53 minutes Briggs great cross gave Muitt a simple tap-in at the back post. And ten minutes later Rutherford well-struck shot put his side in front. Ash was denied by a smart Foulkes save in the 67th minute, which then saw the keeper stay down to receive treatment. City’s frustration at this tactic saw manager Darren Way booked in the 83rd minute but it was Dorking who paid the penalty two minutes later when they were reduced to ten men. The referee instructed a throw-in to be taken from the correct position but instead the already cautioned Taylor just delayed the restart further by handing the ball to teammate, giving the referee no option other than to show him a second yellow. A game that had looked to be petering out suddenly came back to life as twelve additional minutes were shown. City had the ball in the net in the first of these, but the whistle had already gone for a foul on Foulkes. Ten minutes later he had no such escape though as Jordan Alves’ corner wasn’t dealt with and Tillson applied the vital touch from close range.