Bromsgrove Rovers 1 Mangotsfield United 1

Division One West

SUPER-SUB Arthur Appleton's late goal gave Bromsgrove a deserved point as Jimmy Mullen's men rained on the Southern League Division One West champion's parade at the Victoria Ground on Saturday.

Appleton slotted the ball under United goalkeeper Danny Greave in the 84th minute after defender Gary Warren had headed his side in front.

Leon Mitchell, making his first start since March 26, was the first to test Greave in the opening minute when he controlled Steve Frost's low cross and shot at the goalkeeper.

Defender Phil Male handed Mangotsfield a gilt-edge chance to score when United's 26-goal hero David Seal stole the ball off him in the fourth minute.

The striker found Dave Aniyinsah and the full back's cross-evaded Rovers goalkeeper Ian Gandy but was too high for the late arriving Seal.

Mark Benbow then missed a scoring chance in the eighth minute. Mitchell headed Erraji's ball to Benbow on the right but his first time shot screwed wide.

Seal was off target after being put through by Dru Shore in the 14th minute, before Casey Ross's attempt on goal was so wide it went out for a throw-in, after Jason Eason's cute pass set him free.

Mitchell was inches from scoring in the 27th minute, when his stinging low shot cannoned off Greave's right hand post.

Seal shot waywardly from Aniyinsah's cross in the 32nd minute and Matt Johnson's effort was off target after a strong run by Mitchell.

Szewczyk played Steve Frost in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the first minute of the second half but the midfielder shot wide.

But Rovers were left ruing their missed chances when Warren broke the deadlock. The defender headed in Shore's corner, the third in a row, over the despairing Gandy in the 54th minute.

Manager Jimmy Mullen brought on Appleton for Szewczyk, who was struggling with injury, in the 67th minute in order to freshen up his lacklustre side.

Appleton almost made an immediate impact when he headed Banner's corner wide, but then wasted a fine chance in the 71st minute.

The striker ran down the right wing but tried a shot from an acute angle, which went wide, when Mitchell seemed a better option as he powered towards the box.

Mitchell directed a header to substitute Matthew Barnes-Homer and the young striker played Appleton through on goal. The striker showed composure to slot it under Greave.

Rovers: Gandy 7, Johnson 7 (Hadland, 78 mins, 6), Hillman 6, Gardner 7, Male 6, Frost 7, Benbow 5 (Barnes-Homer, 71 mins, 6), Erraji 6, Szewczyk 7 (Appleton, 49 mins 7), Mitchell 8, Banner 6.

Attendance: 439.

Referee: Mr Ian Scarr (Birmingham).

By Peter McKinney