IT WAS A CASE of so-near-yet-so-far for Bromsgrove Rovers AFC when they surrendered a two-goal lead and conceded a dramatic late winner at the hands of Kawala FC on Saturday, writes Neil Gordon.
The Greens went into their Birmingham and District Football League Division 3 fixture having suffered their first home defeat the previous week against Galore, in a match which also saw them lose player Robbie David for the season to injury.
On Saturday Ash Pardoe gave Bromsgrove an early second-half lead against their hosts at Woodfield Academy, Redditch, following a goalless first-half.
Keian Savage then doubled the Greens’ lead just four minutes later to put Rovers in a seemingly commanding position.
However, Rovers were unable to build on their two-goal advantage and Kawala got a foothold on the game on 70 minutes when Mohamed Touaiti pulled a goal back.
Rovers held the lead until a dramatic final three minutes when they snatched defeat from the hands of victory. On 87 minutes a Yunes Qader penalty levelled the scores before Hassan Haji scored the winner just two minutes later, leaving Rovers empty-handed.
Bromsgrove remain sixth in the league on four points after this defeat, while Kawala are now joint-top with Midland Lions on 13 points. Rovers are on the road again this Saturday when they travel to Oldbury to face Premier Division leaders AFC Somers in the cup.