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Charlie Austin scores last minute winner in 7th tier playoff with astonishing late comeback

 Ex-Premier League player Charlie Austin scores a last minute winner in a crazy 7th tier playoff with an astonishing late comeback.

The 35 year old scored a dramatic last-gasp winner to secure a 4-3 victory for AFC Totton against Dorchester Town in the Southern League Premier Division South play-off semi-final.

The match was one of the most remarkable in non-league football history, with four goals scored in stoppage time.

Trailing 2-0 in the 90th minute, AFC Totton staged an incredible comeback. Scott Rendell scored a penalty to make it 2-1, followed by Tony Lee’s goals in the 7th and 10th minutes of added time to take a 3-2 lead.

Dorchester’s Jack Dickson equalised at 3-3, forcing extra time. Austin’s close-range poke in the dying moments of extra time booked AFC Totton’s place in the play-off final against Gloucester City.

On social media, Charlie Austin said: “What a crazy night, don’t matter how you do it just got to get the victory and tonight AFC Totton did! One more to go.”

3 SPS

Champions – Merthyr Town
Playoffs – AFC Totton, Walton & Hersham, Gloucester City, Dorchester Town
Relegated – Winchester City, Swindon Supermarine, Frome Town, Marlow

Semi-finals
Wed 30th Apr, 19:45
AFC Totton 4-3 Dorchester Town
Walton & Hersham 2-2 (3-5p) Gloucester City

Final
Mon 5th May, 15:00
AFC Totton v Gloucester City

Dorchester boss Tom Killick said to Dorset Echo: “Everyone knows it’s a sending off but the referee’s frightened of making that decision.

“That’s the difficulty. Tony ends up scoring two goals. He shouldn’t have been on the pitch.

“I hoped that we’d have the best referee in the league, because I thought they’d pick the referee on merit, but they must have some sort of other arrangement for doing it.

“Then, you’re in the lap of the gods and everyone can see what happened.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, Killick added: “Congratulations to Totton, they’ve prevailed in the end.

“It’s just unbelievable disappointment for us. I really fancied us to see the game out and then, suddenly from nowhere, there’s a penalty.

“That just changes everything. We’re obviously down to 10 men by then anyway.

“We’ve clawed one back, which is typical of our spirit, but extra-time is always going to be a huge ask having played with 10 men for so long.

“We were hoping we could get it to penalties but they’ve nicked one at the end. They’re a very impressive side. They’ve kept going and kept bringing more and more strikers on the pitch.

“It just boiled down to the fact that physically they’re a very big side and we didn’t have enough to cope with the aerial bombardment.

“No criticism for doing it, it’s just the way it was. Particularly without having Will, it was always going to difficult to cope with that, and we succumbed right at the end.”

On bringing goal scorers Pardoe and Roberts back into the side: “We’ve got a good squad.

“There’s players during the season that probably haven’t had the opportunities they should’ve done.

“We changed things and were in a really good position, then the referee decides to intervene with the penalty.

“He’s saying there was grabbing in the box – there’s been grabbing all game. He sends Will off for a second yellow. Tony got a yellow and committed at least six fouls after that – no second yellow.

“Good luck to the referee, he got the gig. It must’ve been some sort of raffle that got him there.

“We have to accept that at this level of football there’s some players that aren’t very good and there’s certainly referees that aren’t very good.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Charlie Austin scores a last minute winner in 7th tier playoff semi final with quite the astonishing late comeback…

@Biggleswade1874: When you played us this season, you were humble and showed real class to everyone at our club. Last night was immense — you deserve every bit of that moment. We might not care much for the club, but we were all on the edge of our seats. 👏🏼

@DorsetHoop24424: Love you Charlie ! That’s the best game I’ve seen and I’ve been following football for sixty years! Thank you Charlie, from the bottom of my heart. You are special and don’t ever let the haters bring you down mush. 🔵⚪🦌👍

@SteveH1982: Not the first time you’ve smashed it in a Play-Off Semi Final. Good luck Monday Chaz

@dunners1980: Amazing game to watch Charlie. What a comeback, more magic on Monday 🤞🟦⬜

@THFCRes: Charlie Austin grabbing the winner as well. Mental

@DorsetHoop24424: Probably the best game of football I’ve ever seen. Well done Dorch, you played your part but beaten by a remarkable AFC Totton team who never know when they are dead and buried. #upthestags 🔵⚪🦌

@mrdavidj: One of the best games I’ve had the privilege to watch.

@sfcvioo: Got to be the best non league game I’ve ever seen! Incredible.

@rherrickmedia: Phwoarr imagine not liking football 😍

@HarveyGerring: Absolutely incredible, I cannot wait for Monday 😍

@bennettmark8: Congratulations guys, as a neutral I’m exhausted after listening live, commiserations @DorchTownFC. What a game

@Archie111111111: That is one of the best non league playoff matches ever 👏 😂

@A_Jones54: Well done from Merthyr, you deserve to come up with us, now to finish the job!

@DorsetMel: What a game! Great entertainment

@gfoley21: The best end to a game I’ve ever seen live 🙈🙈🤯🤯🤣🤣🥳🥳

@ThoseWhiteLines: Congrats 👏 good luck in the Final 👍

@skylarkboy: At 2-0 I said to my dad.. it’s not over, Charlie’s coming on now! Apart from the win,I love the class he showed at the end consoling the Dorchester manager and players 👍

@dean_fry9:
Three things guaranteed to happen in life
Paying taxes
Death
Charlie Austin hitting the back of the net ( just wish it was still at QPR)

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