JORDAN Annear scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser as Malvern Town rescued a point to draw 1-1 away at Winchester City.
Annear struck six minutes into injury time to earn the Hillsiders a point after Bradley Waters put Winchester ahead just past the hour mark at Hillier Way.
And the result means Malvern sit second in the Southern League Division One South table, 10 points behind leaders Frome Town.
The Hillsiders made a bright start against their play-off rivals as Harry Clark sent an early header over the crossbar.
And Piers Walton almost continued his hot streak in front of goal only to shoot wide when well-placed in the box.
The visitors remained on top H Clark’s cross just evaded Sam Clark with the ball an inch too high for the midfielder.
The referee dished out several yellow cards in a physical first half with both teams determined in the tackle.
Malvern spurned further chances before the break as S Clark saw his volley saved by Winchester goalkeeper Tommy Scott.
And Scott then denied Joe Bullock on the stroke of half time as the first period ended goalless.
Scott produced more heroics early in the second half as he kept out substitute Luke Salter’s effort from Yuri Quintas’s square ball.
However, Winchester broke the deadlock against the run of play on 62 minutes as Waters lifted a shot over Josh Bishop and into the net via the aid of the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.
The home side almost doubled their lead soon after as goalscorer Waters flashed a shot across the face of goal and narrowly wide.
Malvern looked certain to equalise with 10 minutes left to play only for some last-ditch defending to deny S Clark after good work from Charlie Johnson.
However, the Hillsiders eventually drew level six minutes into injury time when substitute Annear met Salter’s cross from the right with a bullet header which flew past Scott in the Winchester net.
