YATE Town showed they are made of stern stuff as they produced a superb second half display with ten men, only to be denied a significant win by a late Taunton penalty.

Andy Lewis was sent off five minutes before half-time after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession but the Bluebells rallied brilliantly and were the better side after the break, Bradley Abraham giving them the lead with a wonderful strike on 69 minutes before Steve Murray scored from the penalty spot with five minutes left to secure a point for the visitors.

The absorbing contest was a great advert for Southern League football on Non-League Day and the result means both sides remain unbeaten with Yate still in second spot.

Both sides stroked the ball around confidently in the early stages, reflecting their lofty positions, but chances were at a premium.

Abraham stung goalkeeper Joe Perry’s gloves with a speculative long range attempt inside the first minute, while at the other end Murray’s heavy touch in the Yate box allowed defender Joe Chandler to intervene with a fine tackle before the Taunton striker blasted wide from another promising move.

It looked as though Yate were going to take the lead in the 25th minute when Ross Staley’s low cross-shot caused a goalmouth scramble with Jordan Ricketts and Jake Jackson both having shots blocked after Perry spilt the ball before the former contrived to miss the target when the ball came back to him.

However, the game swung Taunton’s way when Andy Lewis picked up two yellow cards for fouls on Murray, the first for a cynical trip when the striker looked like getting in behind the defence and the second for a mis-timed tackle.

Taunton almost made their one-man advantage count before the break, only for Martin Horsell to spectacularly tip Jamie Price’s effort over the bar from Jamie Short’s free kick before Ben Carter fired wide.

Yate crucially survived until half-time, allowing them to re-group, but manager Rob Cousins refused to sacrifice his side’s sense adventure by sticking with two men up front and Chandler ended up as their furthest player forward from their first foray into the visitors’ half.

Abraham played a key role in ensuring Yate stayed on the front foot, continually winning the ball high up the pitch, and he was rewarded when Jordan Rogers’ blocked shot fell nicely into his path to drive home from 20 yards.

Two minutes later Perry did well to tip Rogers’ fierce strike round the post.

Yate almost gifted Taunton a way back in the game when Horsell and Tippins collided after a mix-up but the latter recovered in time to get to the loose ball before Murray.

Horsell then made a great save, diving low to his right to keep out Murray’s effort.

However, Murray did eventually find the net when he sent Horsell the wrong way from the penalty spot after Short’s run into the box was ended when he was clipped from behind by Lewis Knight, who came on as a substitute moments earlier.

Taunton came on strong towards the end and Horsell preserved Yate’s point when he tipped away Short’s strike in the third minute of stoppage time.

Yate Town: Horsell (c), Tippins, Staley, Chandler, Lewis, Abraham, Warren, Evans, Jackson (Rogers, 63), Haldane, Ricketts (Knight, 82). Subs not used: Felix, Meaker.

Att: 247.

Ref: Mr A Matthews.

Gazette star man: Martin Horsell – Made some crucial saves.