In the first full weekend of English top-flight matches since the coronavirus shutdown in March, Watford's hopes of avoiding relegation looked set to be dented by Ben Chilwell's superb 90th minute strike.
But in a remarkable conclusion, Hornets centre-back Dawson launched himself into an acrobatic effort moments later to claim his first goal for the club.
"It's something you practise in training and it probably doesn't go in very often. I'm delighted with my first goal. It was obviously a very important goal and it was good to get a point in the end," Dawson told BT Sport.