Bromsgrove Sporting 2, Atherstone Town 2

GOALS for Chris Morrison and Andy Nicol nearly handed the Rouslers victory over their title rivals but they were pegged back by a late leveller at the Victoria Ground on Saturday.

Chris Sockett’s 79th impressive minute free-kick ensured it was honours even in a game which Sporting created the better scoring chances.

Despite being pegged back, Bromsgrove still top the Midland Combination Premier Division, although all of their rivals have games in hand.

Nicol had the first real chance of the game after his shot inside the box was parried just around the post for a corner.

Sporting continued the pressure and should have taken the lead on 17 minutes after Elliot Nash fired the ball towards the far top corner of the goal, though the powerful shot was just over.

Lawrence O’Neill created the first chance for Atherstone but the effort failed to hit the target.

They then suffered a set-back when defender Stephen Sadler stretchered off with a knee injury.

Bromsgrove’s pressure did eventually pay off and Morrison opened the scoring with an opportunistic header after Atherstone had failed to clear the ball correctly.

But the visitors equalised on 40 minutes when O'Neill was brought down just inside the box by Matt Ross and Ashley Wilks converted the resulting penalty.

Bromsgrove had one last chance in the first half to take the lead but a fantastic save from Robert Dolman denied them.

The second half was more of a cagey affair with possession being fairly equal.

Sporting started the better side after they took the lead five minutes from the re-start. Nicol’s shot on the far side of the goal rocketed across Robert Dolman into the top corner.

Once again Atherstone found a reply and Sockett saw his free-kick curl into a top corner.

Sporting had one final chance late on but their effort hit the woodwork.

Earlier Tom Savage in the Sporting goal with a candidate for "Save of the Season" stopped a certain goal from David Yonwin with a one-handed save.

Sporting: Savage, Roberts, Parker, Ross, Gleadow (Martin, 86), Harris, Nash, Turk (Dugmore, 82), Morrison (Rogers, 76), NICOL, Draper.

Subs not used: Lodge, Humphries.

Atherstone: Dolman, Eggleton, Sadler (Boggild, 24), Charles, Selvestier, Allen, O'Neill, Sockett, Yonwin (Webb, 73), Wilks, Ashby.

Subs not used: Johnson, Kimberley, Olanipekun.

Referee: A Langsdon (Worcester). Attendance: 280.