Austin nets late leveller on milestone Reds outing
Striker Gary Austin made it a magical ending to his 350th Fareham Town club appearance - by netting a dramatic stoppage-time leveller in their 3-3 Wessex League Premier Division draw at Alton.
Substitute Austin ensured his club landmark milestone was extra special by helping Pete Stiles' side salvage a point.
The 36-year-old, below, who first featured for the Reds in August 2007, has been an incredible club servant and marked his appearance milestone in perfect fashion.
And Fareham boss Stiles was delighted to see the experienced forward enjoy a fairy-tale ending to his 350th club outing.
‘Gary Austin, bless him, he’s 36 now he came on for his 350th appearance for Fareham and got the equaliser,’ Stiles beamed.
‘I think he was a bit disappointed I put him on the bench but he’s no spring chicken now.
‘We manage him well because he’s scoring whether he starts or whether he comes on.
‘You’ve got to manage players as they get older. He’s a great person to have around, and I was delighted that he got that equaliser.
‘He’s a great one to have around and someone I’m hoping, when he stops playing, stays around at the club.
‘When he gets his opportunity, he gives it everything, you can’t ask for more than that.’
Yet again, great entertainers Fareham were involved in another thriller.
Ethan Jones had put the visitors ahead inside 12 minutes before Oli Graham's penalty four minutes later and efforts from Karol Skoczen and Rob Carr fired Alton into a 3-1 half-time advantage.
But Fareham, whose 24 Wessex Premier games have produced an incredible
132 goals, can never be discounted.
Ross Kidson pulled the score back to 3-2 on the hour with Austin coming off the bench and writing his own perfect script by grabbing a stoppage-time equaliser.
Alfie Rutherford is now the joint top scorer in the National League South.
The former Hawks striker struck his 18th NLS goal of the season as Dorking moved six points clear at the top with a 5-1 thrashing of title rivals Ebbsfleet.