Rushall Olympic 1 Bromsgrove Rovers 1

Southern League Division One West

ROBUST Rovers salvaged a deserved point by forcing a last gasp own goal at Rushall and avoiding a second successive defeat in the Southern League Division One West on Saturday.

Rovers were staring down the barrel of a second demoralising defeat when the ball cannoned off former Victoria Ground defender Troy Doughlin to bring the visitors level in the 95th minute at Dales Lane.

Manager Rod Brown's side were up against a team packed with ex-Rovers players, including Marcus Jackson, Leon Allen, Doughlin and striker Ben Porter.

The action started in the first minute when Rushall claimed a penalty after Joe Williams clashed with Porter in the box. Referee Mr O'Sullivan ruled in favour of the Rovers defender.

Rushall continued to boss the game with the help of a trailing wind. Porter latched onto a header down by Neil Kitching but blazed wide in the sixth minute. Kitching got free after collecting a huge goal-kick from Chris Gemmell but Williams got back to block the effort for a corner in the 11th minute.

Another long kick from Gemmell caused trouble for Rovers' defenders, with Kitching benefiting but was denied by Evans as he narrowed the angle in the 24th minute.

Rovers fell behind in the 36th minute. Kitching controlled Gemmell's free kick on his chest and produced a 25-yard volley that screamed into the top right hand corner. Troy Doughlin and Marcus Jackson both wasted chances to put more pressure on Rovers.

Rovers came out fighting in the second half. From a Kevin Banner corner Gemmell made a hash of the cross and Mark Benbow hooked the ball goalwards. However, the referee ruled that he had impeded the 'keeper.

Striker Luke Reynolds made a long awaited return from injury in the second half to lift Rovers. Wayne Dyer slid a through ball to Davis but Richard Brown blocked his effort on 63 minutes.

Reynolds fired in a 25-yard shot, which Gemmell pushed away at the foot of the post. Davis retrieved the ball and crossed for Reynolds, who saw his header cleared off the line by Brown in the 74th minute.

Two minutes later Reynold's shot from the edge of the area deflected off Vassell and trickled wide of the upright.

Rovers piled on the pressure and Williams had a deflected effort fly over the bar in the 77th minute. Benbow weaved in and out to create a chance that was deflected wide by T. Jackson. Williams then headed the resulting corner straight at Gemmell in the 83rd minute.

Rushall had a chance to wrap up all three points but Allen missed the target with only Evans to beat in the 87th minute.

The visitors pushed for an equaliser in injury time. Geohaghan put in a cross that James Forrest headed straight at the 'keeper in the 92nd minute.

But Rovers' persistence paid off in the 95th minute. Matt Johnson delivered the ball into the danger zone, Benbow jumped in front of Gemmell, who lost the ball and it appeared to cannon off Doughlin and into the bottom corner to give Rovers a deserved point. Tyrone Barnett could have won the game for Rushall but fired wide with only Evans to beat.

Rushall: Gemmell, M Jackson, T Jackson, Brown, Doughlin, Vassell, Allen, Holdcroft, Kitching (Lee 84m), Porter (Barnett 71m), Barnfield (Quilt 90m).

Bromsgrove: Evans, Smith (Forrest 73m), Hillman, Williams, Geohaghan, Erraji, Benbow, Dyer, Davis, Johnson, Banner (Reynolds 57m).

Referee: Mr G O'Sullivan (Gloucester). Attendance: 188.

Rovers' man of the match: Mark Benbow

Report by Steve Riddick