Yate Tn 2 Hemel Hempstead 3: Yate looked on the way to ending their winless league run when they led 2-0 with five minutes left, but Hemel Hempstead hit back to score three goals and snatch victory.

Richard Thompson's side's last league victory was on October 4, when they beat Banbury United 3-1 at Lodge Road, and since then they have taken just three points from a possible 30.

Yate had been under pressure from the start but the defence was well-marshalled by skipper Lee Jefferies and goalkeeper Lee Matthews made some fine saves.

The game was changed by Hemel Hempstead's Anthony Thomas, who had rejoined the club 48 hours previously on loan from Stevenage Borough. He scored twice in two minutes to make it 2-2.

Yate boss Richard Thompson said: "To be fair to Hemel Hempstead, they were the best side we have played this season. It was a fantastic game to watch."

Yate included winger Jason Wood, who has rejoined them after being released by Bath City, but he lasted only 34 minutes before limping off with an ankle injury to be replaced by Jacky Smythe.

The Yate defence was under continuous first-half pressure, which they coped with, before taking the lead with virtually their first attack of the game in the 41st minute. Midfielder Paul Chenoweth played in Smythe, who marked his first appearance of the season with a goal.

Then, in first-half injury-time Yate struck again when Scott Brice's ball over the top of a square Hemel Hempstead rearguard set Jake Reid clear down the left and his perfectly-weighted cross was headed in by Aaron Blakemore.

Hemel Hempstead continued to dominate in the second half and Brice was fortunate not to be penalised for a blatant trip in the penalty area on Thomas on the hour mark. Surprisingly, the referee waved away strong appeals fom the visitors for a penalty.

But the Yate defence held out until the 85th minute, when Thomas had a shot blocked but made no mistake from the rebound to give goalkeeper Matthews no chance. Two minutes later, he struck the equaliser after good play by Mark Coulson and Chris Herron.

The final blow came in injury-time as substitute Paul Edgeworth snatched victory for Hemel Hempstead when he followed up after the dangerous Thomas had a shot blocked.