Dorchester 0, Basingstoke Town 1

LATE substitute Uwa Ogbodo settled a bruising encounter in Basingstoke Town's favour with a dramatic injury-time winner that still gives the club back a mathematical chance of making the Nationwide South play-offs.

The Nigerian was only on the pitch because replacement striker Adam Wallace injured himself making a tackle and had to come off.

However, one man's misfortune was certainly Town's gain as Ogbodo earned all three points for Ernie Howe's men with his cool stoppage-time strike.

Although Town finished the game strongly and looked the more likely side to triumph, having enjoyed the better chances, a stalemate was on the cards as the clock ticked to seven extra minutes at The Avenue Stadium.

But young goalie Liam Castle's brilliant 50-yard clearance caught Dorchester cold and was also superbly met by Martin Whiddett, getting to the ball before defender Alex Browne.

The striker's downward header forward sent Ogbodo clear with the home defence stretched and only full-back Carl Poore to beat as he tried desperately to recover.

As he stole into the area, Ogbodo dropped his shoulder to feign going outside, instead he turned inside and then hit a firm shot that found its way past goalie Craig Bradshaw's dive at his near post.

It sparked a joyous reaction among the Town contingent because they had stolen victory at the death against a physical side playing in a hostile arena.

Delighted Howe said afterwards: "It's funny how things turn out sometimes - I've had to take both Roachy and Adam off but the substitutions have worked in our favour.

"Liam and Martin's involvement in the build- up was crucial and it was a very composed finish from Uwa, but he has got the ability to do things like that.

"I just knew what he was going to do when he got the ball and dropped his shoulder."

Dorchester are exactly the type of team who Town have struggled against this season.

But even though they were faced with an overtly physical, route-one side, as well as the vagaries of referee Rodda, Town refused to buckle as fans feared they might.

Chances were limited in a first half where Dorchester captain Browne was lucky to stay on the pitch.

Having previously been booked for scything through Neville Roach, Browne appeared to deliberately rake German De La Vega in the face and shoulder as he lay on the floor injured.

It infuriated Whiddett and Howe, who made his feelings known by coming onto the pitch and talking strongly to the referee.

He later said: "I'm for a bit of physical play, but not when it's raking someone who is on the floor hurt and cannot defend themselves."

Dorchester continued with their long-ball-into-the-channels approach after the interval to little effect, as Town's offside trap was on form.

Castle had to make himself large, after a free-kick to the back post, to block Jamie Brown's effort.

Following a Sergio Torres corner, touched on by Jason Bristow and then De La Vega, Mark Paterson turned a shot just over on 67 minutes before having to produce trademark defensive qualities to outpace Matt Groves and make a fine recovery tackle a minute later.

A cynical, rugby-like tackle from Poore in the 71st minute halted a Torres charge after he had knocked the ball around him and a good break was on, but the Dorchester player got away with a yellow card as he wasn't quite the last man.

Just when it seemed a draw was the likely result, Ogbodo got his first goal for the club and it means Town are still in with an outside play-off chance.

Eastbourne's two matches in hand this week, against Bishop's Stortford and Weston-super-Mare, are likely to decide for Town whether a win in next Saturday's fixture against Thurrock may see them secure a top-five spot.

Town: Liam Castle, Brett Cooper, Neville Stamp, Jason Bristow, Mark Paterson, David Ray, German De La Vega, Sergio Torres, Martin Whiddett, Neville Roach (Adam Wallace 75 mins/Uwa Ogbodo 85 mins), Cristian Levis.

Not used: Ricky Allaway, Bledian Fezjullahu, Scott Smith.