Halesowen 2 Ashton 2 - Report and pictures

Goals from Jordan Goddard and Kaiman Anderson seemed to have the Yeltz well on course for a fourth league win of the season.

But Lee Knight stirred the visitors and ensured a nervy finish when he pulled one back with 15 minutes remaining.

And then, with the game approaching stoppage time, Gaskell earned an unlikely point for his side when he finished a short corner routine.

It was in many ways redemption for the visiting striker, who earlier robbed his team of a quicker route back into the game at 2-0 down, when he got a needless touch on a goalbound shot from an offside position.

For the Yeltz, this was ultimately a hugely frustrating afternoon, as they ended up taking only a point from a game they long looked destined to win.

Indeed, the visitors did not manage a shot on goal until Gaskell's disallowed effort midway through the second half and though Halesowen were not at their best, they were mostly untroubled before the visitors late comeback.

The scrappy nature of the home side's opener was fitting of a game in which both teams initially struggled to find their feet on a deceptively tricky surface.

It arrived with the Yeltz's first real attack, Daniel Bragoli's deep cross from the right finding an unmarked Lee Chilton, whose volley was miscued enough to cause a scramble in the box which ended with Goddard eventually poking home at the second attempt, having initially missed his kick from three yards out.

Goal aside, the first half delivered little to write home about with neither side able to muster another shot on target.

On loan defender Richard Sho-Silva at least gave Ashton keeper Terry Smith reason to worry with a fierce drive from 25 yards out which flashed just inches over the bar. Goddard, meanwhile, will feel he should have done better than shoot wide from just outside the box after meeting Anderson's knockdown.

Having done little of note in the final third, the visitors were looking dangerous at the start of the second period before Anderson doubled the lead.

The goal arrived when Ashton were temporarily down to ten, with Gaskell off the field and receiving treatment on a facial injury sustained while attempting an overhead kick from the edge of the box. Halesowen broke, with Anderson eventually slotting home his 11th goal of the season from close range after the visiting defence had failed to clear his initial cross.

It looked a cruise for the hosts, though Ashton were doing everything possible to help and their afternoon got worse midway through the half when they saw a goal needlessly chalked out.

Jack Dorney's shot looked destined to creep inside the far post only for Gaskell, who was in an offside position, to needlessly stick out a foot in an attempt to help it on its way and drawing a raised flag from the assistant referee.

The Yeltz failed to heed the warning however and with 15 minutes to go the visitors did pull a goal back, on loan Oldham striker Knight tapping home at the far post from Dorney's cross.

With the game belatedly coming to life, Anderson headed wide at the far post, while Mark Lees drilled a shot off target at the other end.

And, with the game approaching stoppage time, Gaskell redeemed his earlier aberration by turning home the leveller after the hosts fell asleep at a short corner, allowing substitute Jody Banim to advance before drilling in a cross.

Yeltz (4-4-1-1): Platt, Haynes, Sho-Silva, Charlton, Hancocks, Bragoli, Digie, Denny ©, Chilton, Goddard (Delaney 85), Anderson Subs not used: Melvin, Morrison, Griffiths, Cleet.

Ashton (4-1-4-1): Smith T, Coo, Cowan, Frost, Mason, Moses (Lofthouse 72), Knight, Lees, Dorney (Banim 81), Chadwick (Smith R 62), Gaskell, Subs not used: Smalley, Haining.