DAVE Tarpey (pictured) hit an injury time equaliser to salvage Hampton & Richmond a point in a 3-3 draw at home against Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.
A lacklustre first half saw Mark Harper’s men go 2-0 down, Lee Peacock needing only five minutes to break the deadlock with a free-kick, before Scott Jones doubled the visitors' lead from close range on the half hour.
The body language of some of the home players suggested another defeat was on the cards, but the fans could not have wished for a more exciting turnaround.
The Hampton players seemed to undergo a total transformation at half time, and Nathan Collier pulled a goal back five minutes into the second half with a speedy run from the halfway line, which saw him zig-za past four opponents before slotting home.
And just six minutes later, Collier exchanged a couple of short passes with James Simmonds, who unleashed a thundering effort over the head of a the visiting keeper to make it 2-2.
However, a euphoric Hampton switched off momentarily, allowing Oliver Palmer to put the guests in front again with a header from a long throw by former Beaver Jon McDonald.
Dean Inman thought he had equliased, but his celebrations proved premature as the linesman flagged for offside, while impressive Cambridge loanee Jonathan O’Donnell won a penalty for Hampton on 66 minutes, but Simmonds saw his effort saved.
With six minutes left, home keeper Matt Lovett suffered a reoccurrance of his knee injury and was carried off on a stretcher in agony. Defender Billy Jeffries deputised in goal as number two Rodney Chiweshe is on loan at Walton & Hersham.
Thankfully, the last action was down at the other end, Tarpey making the most of five minutes added time by smashing home the equaliser in the final minute of it.
