MAGPIES 3 BIDEFORD 3

DORCHESTER Town claimed the unlikeliest of points at the Avenue tonight with an escape act that Harry Houdini himself would have been proud of.

Staring a 3-0 defeat in the face, the Magpies scored in the 89th, 91st and 93rd minutes to rescue a draw they simply didn’t deserve.

The hosts were a clear second best for almost the whole game and how Bideford didn’t collect all three points was mindboggling.

However, the Magpies’ late strikes from Matt Oldring, Nick Crittenden and Alex Godfrey could well prove to be crucial for them in the greater scheme of things.

The night started with Dorchester giving a debut to Bournemouth loanee Josh Kaye who slotted in at left-back in place of Callum Buckley, now back with the Cherries.

Micky Hubbard came into the team, as did Jason Brookes, with flu victim Chris Dillon and Charlie Davis dropping out of the squad altogether.

Ryan Murray, a trialist at the Avenue in pre-season, was on the bench having arrived from Gillingham earlier in the day, while Tony Rolls returned to the fold and started among the substitutes.

Both sides made positive starts to the game with half-chances at either end inside the first six minutes.

A dangerous cross from the right by Bideford’s Niall Thompson found Sean Downing at the back post and he nearly squeezed the ball in.

The Magpies responded with a Ben Joyce snap-shot which visiting keeper Grant Fisher took comfortably.

But, for the ninth time in 13 league outings this season, Dorchester conceded the first goal.

It came on 16 minutes when a long throw into the home side’s box seemed to be misjudged by captain Nathan Walker and Ben Wood struck a left-foot volley that went in via Alan Walker-Harris’ hand and a post.

Chances were few and far between in the immediate aftermath of the goal.

However, half an hour in and the Robins were 2-0 up, Wood getting his second of the night with the easiest of finishes after Walker-Harris had saved well from Downing.

Craig Veal, whose long throw helped set up the opener, played a big part in Bideford doubling their advantage as it was his run and cross that created the opportunity for Downing.

And Veal nearly got his name on the scoresheet too, but his volley from Thompson’s diagonal ball went straight into the hands of Walker-Harris.

The pressure on the hosts was really beginning to tell by the time Walker-Harris had to keep out another Veal effort and Downing’s follow up attempt.

A third goal looked inevitable and it arrived a minute into first-half injury time.

Downing turned Brookes one way and then the other before the defender brought the visiting player down in the box for a blatant penalty.

Robins’ skipper Richard Groves despatched the spot-kick with aplomb.

The first real impression Bournemouth youngster Kaye made on proceedings was just seconds after the interval when he led with an elbow and clattered into Thompson. The left-back was rightly booked.

For all their flaws in the first half, the hosts showed minor signs of improvement in the opening 15 minutes of the second period.

Bideford still threatened to extend their advantage with Ian Sampson and Downing being denied by Walker-Harris, while at the other end a visiting defender got in the way of a Joyce effort.

By this time Dorchester had replaced Brookes, who had endured a torrid hour or so, and Hubbard with Murray and Godfrey.

A couple of Dan Smith efforts, including one which produced a superb save from Fisher, gave the home fans something to cheer, and Sam Lanahan headed over from a corner when he should have done better.

The fixture looked to be petering out until Dorchester substitute Oldring, on for Critchell, tapped in from a corner in the 89th minute.

Then, in the first minute of stoppage time, Crittenden made it 3-2 when he gathered a low cross and calmly slotted home through a smattering of Bideford defenders.

And, two minutes later, a ball into the visitors’ box was only half cleared and from just outside the area Godfrey let fly to find the corner.

Dorchester’s players, management and supporters celebrated as if the goal had clinched promotion, while Bideford were left scratching their heads after drawing a game they were in total control of.

Magpies: Walker-Harris 5, Brookes 3 (Murray 62, 5), Kaye 4, Smeeton 5, N Walker 5, Critchell 5 (Oldring 75, 5), Crittenden 6, Lanahan 5, Joyce 5, Hubbard 4 (Godfrey 62, 5), Smith 5. Subs not used: Parrett, Rolls.

Bideford: Fisher, Sampson, Reed, Downing, Villis, Barnes, Groves, Wring, Veal, Wood, Thompson (Milton 90+3). Subs not used: Squire, McGrath.

Booked: Magpies – Kaye (foul, 46)

Bideford – Sampson (foul, 90+1)

Referee: Sam Ogles (Eastleigh)

Attendance: 326