DORCHESTER TOWN 2 CAMBRIDGE CITY 2

DORCHESTER let a two-goal lead slip from their grasp at the Avenue Stadium.

But the point won still enabled the county town side to leapfrog Bideford and Paulton Rovers to take 18th place in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division table.

Manager Graham Kemp wel-comed defender Chris Dillon back to the fold after he had recovered from a groin injury, and Jack Odam made his return.

But the Magpies’ boss was still without Jamie Gleeson and Jake Smeeton.

Leading by a Sam Lanahan header and an early second-half strike from Dan Smith, the Mag-pies seemed on course for three points but a quick response from City’s Andrew Phillips reduced the arrears.

Then a lengthy stoppage caused by a foot injury to referee Daniel Leach saw the Oxfordshire-based official replaced by Weymouth’s Damian Pelka with referee and spectator Ben Cobb from Poole taking an assistant’s role for the last 15 minutes of the match.

Livewire Lilywhites’ substitute Olunole Akinsanya took full advantage of the stoppage time to drive home a near-post equaliser to deny the Magpies victory.

City settled into their stride quickly at the start of the match when an early Ieuan Lewis cross from the right was met by Phillips who headed wide from six yards.

Alan Walker-Harris then parried a shot from Buster Harr-adine and quickly adjusted position to block the follow up effort from Claudio Vilcu.

As City kept up the pressure, Walker-Harris was again called into action, this time to beat out a near-post drive from Harradine.

Dorchester fans saw their side’s first attempt in the ninth minute when Smith’s cross fell for Odam but his header bounced wide.

Smith then went down in the presence of Heider Juliusson but appeals for a penalty were quickly dismissed.

However, the Magpies took the lead after 23 minutes when Chris Dillon’s clearance found Nick Crittenden, who in turn, pumped a long ball forward which was deflected into the path of Smith on the left wing.

He centred for Lanahan who beat Cambridge keeper James Head with a well-placed header from six yards out.

City fought back and shots from Phillips and Juliusson both flew wide.

At the other end, Mason Walsh, on his home debut, drew a diving save from Head with an 18-yard shot after an Andy Robinson free- kick had rebounded to him.

Robinson did well to stay on his feet under a challenge and sent a cross-field ball over to Oakley Hanger, whose right-wing centre found Lanahan, but on this occasion, the midfielder’s shot rolled wide.

Walsh and Odam then aimed efforts too close to the City keeper while his opposite number was well placed to cut out a free-kick from Danny Kelly, awarded for a push by Nathan Walker.

Smith then charged down the right ring before despatching a fierce angled drive over the crossbar.

The second Dorchester goal came just four minutes after the break when Hanger found Critt-enden and, from the right edge of the penalty area, he pulled the ball back to Smith who steered a 12-yard shot into the far corner.

But City stormed back and a low drive from Kelly was smothered by Walker-Harris.

The reprieve proved short-lived as a long throw from Duran Reynolds dropped kindly for Phillips, who turned quickly to score with a low shot from six yards.

Cambridge piled on the pressure – Walker-Harris raced out of his area to clear, while from a Phillips cross, Kelly’s near-post header flashed just wide of the mark.

Reynolds then sent a free-kick straight at the Dorchester keeper before the injury was sustained by the match referee.

Fortunately a qualified match official was watching the game and was able to offer his services as assistant referee to enable the match to conclude.

With Weymouth official Pelka now in charge, his first task was to calm an off-the-ball incident involving Smith and City’s Adam Martin.

Substitute Akinsanya sent a close-range header over but in the fourth of 12 stoppage time minutes, Reynolds sent a cross-field ball from left to right where Josh Dawkin played in full-back Tom Pepper and, from his deflected centre, Akinsanya pounced at the near post to prod home the equaliser.

A clash of heads between Walker and Lanahan added to the injury time but neither side were able to claim the three points.

Magpies: Walker-Harris, Hanger, Oldring (Murray 90+12), Robinson, Walker, Dillon, Crittenden (Parrett, 90+4), Lanahan, Smith, Odam, Walsh (Brown, 90+4). Subs not used: Godfrey, Brookes

Cambridge: Head, Pepper, Reynolds, Vilcu, Chaffey, Martin, Lewis, Juiliusson, (Dawkin 67), Kelly (Akinsanya, 72), Phillips, Harrandine (King 75). Subs not used: Emsden, Murray

Bookings: Dorchester – None

Cambridge – Reynolds (foul, 53), Lewis (foul, 63)

Referee: Daniel Leach (Witney)

Attendance: 280