Desolate Enfield Town were denied victory by a controversial stoppage-time penalty at Needham Market on Saturday.

Town had worked hard to battle back from a goal down to lead through a delicious 80th-minute free-kick from Jack Higgs, after Darryl Coakley had inadvertently handed them an equaliser with an own goal.

But the hosts were handed a share of the spoils in injury time when Ryan Blackman’s ball-to-hand was seen as something more sinister by the referee, and Dan Morphew confidently netted from 12 yards.

To hang on would have given Enfield a first win in three games in the Bostik Premier, but instead leaves their season still faltering in 16th position after eight games.

Town’s Aaron Greene was their stand-out performer and was the first to carve out an opportunity, giving Danny Gay in the home goal something to think about with a straightforward effort.

At the other end, Joe Wright’s first sight of the action followed when he had to punch clear from a Needham Market corner, before Enfield were left looking for a penalty when Coakley appeared to have handled Ryan Blake’s cross.

Referee Oliver Morris-Sanders was unmoved by the protests, and after that let-off Needham began to work their way into the game.

Luke Ingram’s shot was parried by Wright and Callum Harrison blazed over, as the hosts felt their momentum building before the break.

And they turned their new-found territory into a goal with five minutes of the first half left.

Ryan Gibb’s first effort was saved by Wright, but Ingram made sure to turn in the rebound after reacting quickest.

Higgs and Drew Roberts heeded the call to improve at the break and both came close with headers shortly after the restart, before the former looked to control a Greene cross, only for it to strike Coakley and level the scores.

Joe Wight saw a free-kick saved by Wright as the game naturally opened up, before Enfield came close to connecting with a pair of teasing crosses.

With 10 minutes to go, Blake was brought down on the edge of the Needham box, and Higgs curled the free-kick beyond the wall and Gay, who had been left helpless.

But within seconds of five minutes of added time being announced by Morris-Sanders, he pointed to the penalty spot when Blackman was harshly judged to have handled. And Morphew blasted down the middle from the spot to give Needham a share of the spoils.