CHARLIE Williams scored a 99th minute penalty as Stratford Town rescued a late point in a 1-1 draw away at Bishop’s Stortford.
Williams netted from the spot with virtually the last kick of the game to cancel out Olumide Oluwatimilehin’s opener at the RDA Stadium.
And the result means Stratford sit fourth in the Southern League Premier Central table, six points behind leaders Bedford Town with two games in-hand.
The Bards spurned a number of early chances the best of which saw Callum Ebanks fire straight at Bishop’s Stortford goalkeeper Elliot Krasniqi from close range.
Moments later, Bishop’s Stortford broke the deadlock on 25 minutes when Oluwatimilehin smashed a loose ball into the net from 20-yards out after Jenson Kilroy kept out an initial shot.
The home side looked to double their lead as Kilroy denied Rashawn Scott before Jaden Ogwuazor headed over.
Stratford responded with chances of their own as both Dan Lafferty and Lewis Ludford-Ison went close.
After the break, Ison drew a full-stretch save out of Krasniqi while Bards captain Paul McCone made a crucial challenge at the other end to deny Scott a clear sight of goal.
The visitors tested Krasniqi again later in the half as the Bishop’s Stortford goalkeeper acrobatically kept out Ison’s header with the Stratford man left unmarked at the back post.
However, Stratford’s pressure eventually told when Lafferty drew a foul in the box nine minutes into injury time after the home side failed to clear their lines.
In the resulting protests, Bishop’s Stortford manager Steve Castle received a red card.
Substitute Williams stepped up and kept his cool to earn the Bards a point which could prove crucial come the end of the season.
Stratford are next in action against AFC Sudbury on Tuesday, February 25 with kick-off at 7.45pm at the Arden Garages Stadium.
