CRACKER: Kevin Banner's thunderbolt earned Rovers a draw.
Yate 2
Rovers 2
KEVIN Banner's wonder strike late in the second-half helped Bromsgrove Rovers to a hard-earned point against high-flying Yate Town at Lodge Road on New Year's Day.
The Greens took the lead before the break thanks to Jozsef Jakab's quick thinking, but two goals in three second-half minutes from Matt Rawlings put Yate in command until Banner's equaliser.
Yate saw claims for a penalty waived away in the second minute after former Rovers trialist Aaron Blakemore went down in the area under a challenge from Chris McHale.
Chris Duggan had Rovers' first effort on goal, which home goalkeeper Tony Court did well to gather.
David Bridgwater tested Court's handling with a rasping 25-yarder, which was spilled and gathered at the second attempt.
Dave Elsey's long-range shot in the 25th minute tested Karl Lewis in goal but the Greens custodian claimed easily.
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Banner worked a chance for Rovers after half an hour, but his weak shot was straight at Court.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 43rd minute when Jakab intercepted Phil Waters intended backpass.
The Hungarian striker rounded Court and rolled the ball into the empty net, for his third goal in five games for Rovers.
McHale almost doubled Rovers' advantage two minutes into the second-half when he beat Court to Bridgwater's corner, but his header went just wide of the far post.
The Greens were now in command of the game and in the 61st minute Banner latched onto Jakab's lay-off after his good run down the left, to fire wide across goal.
In the 65th minute the Bluebells equalised against the run of play.
A defensive lapse allowed Rawlings to gather Craig Davidge's cross, before turning and lashing the ball into the top right hand corner of the net.
Yate went into the lead three minutes later when Davidge was allowed to cross from the right and Rawlings lost his marker to power home a near post header.
But the advantage stood for just eight minutes.
The Greens drew level when Hines played a ball down the left, and Jakab directed a pass in to Banner's path.
The winger unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner, giving Court no chance.
Yate came back with substitute David Anyinsah's left wing cross which Blakemore directed goalwards but Hines was on hand to block.
A minute later Lewis denied Hawkins with his feet as he blocked a goal-bound effort.
Rovers almost snatched a winner as Banner's vicious 83rd minute effort from the left-hand side of the area beat Court's despairing dive only for it to cannon back off the inside of the right hand post.
The match ended in controversy when the officials failed to spot a handball in the area from Scott Brice after he charged down Leigh Downing's effort.
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