DORCHESTER Town boss Tom Killick felt “the players really did deserve” a last-gasp equaliser at leaders Gosport Borough yesterday evening.

Killick handed debuts to new recruits Adam Forster and Drew Eccott-Young before Dorchester dominated the first half without reward, the Magpies coming back from 2-0 down after 86 minutes to salvage a dramatic point.

The draw had looked unlikely after goals for ex-Magpies winger Brad Tarbuck and a Rory Williams penalty.

But sub Lewis Waterfield bagged his first goal of the season and later had a goal ruled out for offside in an action-packed finale.

READ MORE: Gosport Borough 2-2 Dorchester Town - report

With time running into a 97th minute, Yeovil loanee Ollie Haste scored a header from a corner to record his maiden Magpies goal in stunning fashion.

It was the third consecutive 2-2 draw between the sides and the third time in a row a side has come from 2-0 down to earn a point in this fixture.

Speaking after picking up his first point as Dorchester boss, Killick felt it would have been an “injustice” had his side gone home empty handed.

He told Echosport: “We felt we should’ve had a penalty and we’ve missed a couple of chances.

“They hadn’t really created anything, then the first goal goes in and I still felt we had a decent chance of getting back into the game.

“Just as we were about to change tactically to be a little bit more offensive, then we concede the penalty for the second goal.

“Then you do fear for us because you’ll often get picked off. Luckily, they showed real character and it was all us.

“We got the first goal and then we had an unbelievable opportunity to score, then we’ve had one disallowed which we felt a bit aggrieved about.

“I just felt the players really did deserve that. It would’ve been an injustice had we not got something.”

Killick had no complaints with Gosport’s penalty, given for a foul by Eccott-Young, adding: “As soon as there was contact there, you felt the referee was likely to give a penalty, particularly with it being the home side.

“Sure enough, he didn’t hesitate. I did feel on balance that was quite a clear penalty.

“At that point we’re staring down the barrel and I was very proud of the reaction after that.”

And on that note, Killick felt Waterfield’s goal piled pressure on Gosport before Haste’s leveller.

He said: “At 2-0, on the one hand you feel you’re in an unbelievably difficult situation but everyone’s also seen the scenarios where you do get one goal and there’s an awful lot of panic in the opposition.

“I think that’s what happened. I didn’t think they responded very well mentally to conceding the first goal and we did have quite a few opportunities to get the equaliser.

“I did feel it was getting to a point where it wasn’t to be, but luckily the players are made of sterner stuff, we kept going and managed to nick it at the end.

“The other good thing is that it didn’t give Gosport time (to score again) after the goal.”

Killick also confirmed that Jack Dickson was set to start had he not come down with an illness.

The ex-Poole man was available again after his red card at Plymouth Parkway.

Elsewhere, Dorchester do not have a game this weekend due to Bracknell’s participation in the FA Cup final qualifying round.

They next play at Hendon on Saturday, October 21 (3pm).