BATTLING POINT: Kevin Banner put in an impressive display on his return from injury, while Nathan Lamey tried his best to work the Tiverton goalkeeper. Pictures by Nick Toogood
KEVIN Banner returned from injury to salvage a point for Rovers with a penalty three minutes from time.
The popular winger's 87th minute spot kick netted a draw for the Greens after Carl Cliff-Brown had given the visitors the lead.
Rovers had the better of the opening exchanges and went close in the fourth minute.
Banner's cross into the area caused havoc in the Town defence but Tom Gardner cleared for a corner.
From the resulting corner Jermaine Clarke had his effort from 10 yards out cleared off the line by full-back Luke Clarke.
Rovers had legitimate claims for a penalty turned down after Matt Villis seemed to play the man before the ball and sent Mark Taylor sprawling in the area, but a corner was awarded.
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Banner cut inside from the left to the edge of the area in the 18th minute but his effort lacked any power and Tiverton goalkeeper Ray Johnston had an easy claim.
Tiverton exploded into life five minutes before half-time when Tom Knighton latched onto Johnston's kick upfield and was unlucky to see his lob bounce wide of the empty net.
A minute later, Knighton's fierce effort from 20 yards was pushed over the crossbar by Greens' goalkeeper Chris Taylor.
The visitors took the lead in controversial fashion on the stroke of half time. The assistant referee flagged for a foul on the right wing but the call was overruled by the referee, allowing Cliff-Brown to unleash a powerful drive that Taylor could only parry into the net at his near post.
It was Taylor who kept the Greens in the game in the second half, with two splendid saves.
In the 54th minute Glen Gould slipped Knighton through on goal but the big keeper did well to save at the winger's feet.
Seven minutes later he collected a Cliff-Brown effort low down to his right. But Rovers hit back with substitute Wayne Dyer playing a one-two with Sam Alsop on the edge of the area, and his cross hit Villis on the arm.
The penalty was awarded and Banner dispatched the penalty to Johnston's left for the equaliser.
Rovers almost snatched the three points in injury time, as Marlon Walters produced a shot on the turn that left Johnston flat footed and the keeper was relieved to watch it roll agonisingly past the right hand upright.
ROVERS: C Taylor, Birley (Lloyd, 45 mins), Petty, Snape, McHale, Walters, Alsop, M Taylor (Bridgwater, 72 mins), Clarke (Dyer, 23 mins), Lamey, BANNER. Unused subs: Spittle, Lewis.
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