Dial gave their push for promotion a huge boost on Tuesday (4 March) night after coming from behind to beat rivals AFC Walcountians 3-2 in the Surrey Premier County Football League.

A goal from Dan Cenzano in the fifth-minute of stoppage-time gave Dial all three points at The Reg Madgwick Stadium (home to Cobham F.C.) to move Steve Brown's side within one-point of The Counts, and with four games in hand.

Dubbed as the game of the season, there was plenty at stake with both clubs vying for just one promotion place to the Combined Counties Football League.

The hosts had the psychological advantage after being the first club to beat Dial (3-1) at home - in the league - in over two years in January.

However, it was Dial who got their noses in front after just six minutes when a searching pass from Aidan Doran picked out Harry Rice, whose sublime touch and finish helped set the tone.

At the other end, Andy Rider rushed out of goal to deny Jacob Sewell, before holding his ground to easily gather Sewell’s header a minute later inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour.

With Walcountians growing in confidence, it was arguably just-reward when Joe Wickham managed to turn the ball in from close range to level the proceedings in the 37th-minute.

Shortly after the interval, Dial midfielder Aidan Doran fired straight at Jack Farthing after some neat footwork on the edge of the box, before Counts’ striker Kyron Rose-Green’s shot rolled the wrong side of the post after a good inception from Will Neville.

Dial received a let-off when Sewell breached the last line of defence, only to poke his shot wide of the target with the goal at his mercy midway through the second half.

Wickham then hit the bar for the hosts a minute later, before the marksman was on hand to score his second of the evening from close range in the 63rd minute to give The Counts the lead.

After three earlier bookings, Farthing was then disciplined for time-wasting as Dial sought to claw their way back into the game.

In a move to inject some fresh impetus, Brown made three substitutions in quick succession, with Marshall, Adam Aziz, and debutant Ryan Bell making way for Balai Antonio Dembele, Cenzano and Ben Vassell.

The switch had an immediate impact when Rice managed to poke the ball home in the 86th-minute to equalise following a great surging run and cross from Louie Rogers to make the chance possible.

With the referee Ashley Carley indicating no less than six-minutes of stoppage time, the three points were still up for grabs and Dial pressed hard for an all-important third goal.

A powerful header from Neville in the third-minute of stoppage-time looked to have settled the match, but it was ruled out for offside.

But in last gasp effort to secure the points, Rice shot on the run was deflected into the path of Cenzano, who coolly passed his shot into an open goal to give Dial a 3-2 win deep into added time.

Speaking briefing after the match, Brown said: “We needed that [win]. A draw didn’t help either side. I’m pleased with the way the lads fought back to get the win against a well-drilled AFC Walcountians side. The match was a great advert for the Surrey Premier [County Football] League.”

DIAL SQUARE: Rider, Phillips, Rogers, Bell (Vassell), Vass (Bunyan), Neville, Carter, Doran, Rice, Aziz (Cenzano), Marshall (Dembele).

MotM: Aidan Doran