AN injury time header from Jason Prior denied Billericay Town a deserved three points in an entertaining National League South encounter with Dorking Wanderers which ended 2-2.

Two goals in the space of five second half minutes had given Town a two-goal lead at the Steel Team Stadium.

But late goals from David Ray and Jason Prior allowed Dorking to snatch a share of the spoils.

The first meaningful effort of the afternoon came from Darren Oldaker, who joined Billericay less than 24 hours before kick-off.

Oldaker jinked his way into the Dorking penalty area before leaving a defender in his wake and cutting inside but, from an acute angle, the former Gillingham midfielder was thwarted by the legs of goalkeeper Slavomir Huk.

Robinson then saw a long range strike fly wide of the post before strike partner Emmanuel was denied by an impressive block.

Half-hearted appeals for a Dorking penalty were waved away by referee Sunny Gill when winger Matthew Briggs went down under a Doug Loft challenge, while an unmarked Prior nodded wide of the target from 10 yards out soon after the half hour mark.

With the contest approaching the interval, Odysseus Alfa twisted and turned beyond Samuel Beard before the Queens Park Rangers loanee’s drive whistled past the post.

Arjanit Krasniqi’s curling free-kick went the wrong side of the post moments before a promising opening period was brought to a close.

Dorking thought they had broken the deadlock less than three minutes after the interval.

Having emerged as a half-time substitute, Giuseppe Sole diverted a Samuel Beard drive beyond Billericay goalkeeper Alan Julian from close range.

However, the attacker was deemed to have been offside and the goal was ruled out.

Oldaker should have put Billericay ahead with a guilt-edged chance soon after.

Sam Deering’s low free-kick caused confusion and two Dorking defenders collided with each other, leaving Oldaker unmarked.

But the midfielder’s effort strayed inches wide of the target.

However, Billericay made the breakthrough with 66 minutes on the clock.

Robinson put Beard under pressure and, after getting the ball under control, switched the play with a drilled pass into the path of Emmanuel.

The striker’s strike found the back of the net via a slight deflection.

Dorking went in search of an instant equaliser and Julian pulled off an impressive diving save to frustrate Prior from close range.

And there was daylight between the two sides five minutes later as Emmanuel’s cutback found Oldaker.

The midfielder’s blocked strike fell kindly for Robinson, who tapped home the rebound from close range.

Dorking were offered a route back into the contest when substitute Jordan Parkes was penalised for a clumsy challenge and the visitors were awarded a penalty.

However, Prior blasted the spot-kick over the crossbar with 12 minutes remaining.

But Dorking had hope of staging a late comeback as – with less than five minutes still to play – Julian acrobatically tipped Prior’s header onto the post only for Ray to be on hand to tap home.

And Dorking stole a point as, deep in injury time, Prior’s looping header evaded Julian and found the top corner of the net.