WELWYN GC scored twice in stoppage time to preserve their unbeaten away start to the campaign and rescue victory at lowly Flackwell Heath.
The Citizens went into added time 2-1 down to the Bucks side and staring defeat in the face, when a dramatic six minute period of over time saw them snatch victory, to add to their away wins at Hadley, Barton and Ware so far and a last minute draw at Biggleswade.
Ethan Rookard, WGC’s outstanding performer in a poor second-half display, headed them level a minute into the extra period from a Brad Dixon-Smith left-wing corner and then from a free-kick from the same player, an rather underhit effort from Tyreece Robertson crept over the line a minute from time, for victory.
WGC assistant boss Glenn Draper said afterwards: “Our performance, particularly second-half was well below our usual standards, but we never gave it up and it was tremendous spirit that got us a win here.’’
Flackwell’s notorious sloping pitch was also a real factor, with the ball constantly out of play and good football difficult on a rough surface.
WGC made just one change from Tuesday night’s draw with Royston, Ryan Hayes replacing Luis Cantello in midfield, Cantello being on the bench.
Defender Keiron Gauthier’s long throw was a constant weapon on the Wilks Park pitch and from an early one, Nick Ralfe had a close in shot saved by home keeper Alfie Bonfield.
Ralfe scorned a great chance to give WGC the lead in 15 minutes, when put through by a fine Rookard header, but put his effort wide of the far post.
The goalscoring winger made amends nine minutes later giving WGC the lead.
It came from a Gauthier throw-in on the right, Rookard again won it in the air and when it came down, Ralfe, this time, despatched it past the keeper from short range.
Keeper Bonfield made good stops from a close-in Rookard effort and a Frankie Impey header before half-time to prevent the Citizens stretching their lead.
WGC made two instant changes for the second-half. Skipper on the day Eddie Corbit was replaced by Cantello at the break and two minutes in, Junior Moses, who had a subdued performance compared with recent outstanding games, saw Robertson replace him.
Nine minutes after the restart, WGC were shocked by a Flackwell Heath equaliser, when there seemed little danger.
A move involving Cantello and Gauthier broke down, home winger Jamie Davies was sent clear down the right and when he shot goalward, his effort was deflected high over WGC keeper Connor Sansom into the far corner.
More drama was to follow eight minutes later. A huge clearance from the left from home full-back Lewis Patrick again found Davies on the far post and his rising volley flew over Sansom for aun unlikely home 2-1 lead.
WGC, clearly rocked, rang the changes, Kendall Gyamfi, Reece Mosanya and Luca Gordon replacing Hayes, Ralfe and Malik Nosike.
Home defender Zeid Hannachi got his marching orders from referee Demo eight minutes from time for a wild challenge on Robertson, his second yellow in a matter of minutes.
But three minutes later, both sides were down to 10 men, as WGC substitute Gyamfi was also red carded for attempting to throw a punch, in retaliation after being fouled.
And so the game went into stoppage time, with a rare WGC defeat looking likely, until their two Rs upfront – Rookard and Robertson - saved the day, as their goals lifted the Citizens back to third in the table.
WGC: Sansom, Ntege, Impey, Gauthier, Dixon-Smith, Corbit (Cantello 46), Nosike (Gordon 75), Moses (Robertson 48), Hayes (Gyamfi 64), Ralfe (Mosanya 75), Rookard.
