SOMETIMES fortune favours the brave. It also favoured the deserved on Saturday.

It took a slice, quite literally, of good luck for the Minstermen to end a run of three straight defeats and seal their first share-all of the season with Richard Cooper's last-gasp strike.

But it was no more than they deserved for a plucky display not lacking in courage nor guile as they twice fought back from behind.

After such a run of defeats, to be trailing 2-1 in stoppage time having already restored parity once and then seen such good work undone by an unfortunate own goal, it would have been easy for the Minstermen to think the world was conspiring against them.

That they refused to be accepting of their fate and displayed perseverance is as admirable as it is a welcome change to seasons past.

This nagging ability of City's to brush aside bad performances and battle to the end is a healthy one. If they could just rub out the bad performances altogether then anything could be possible.

Certainly, the first half, exceptional if only because it was so unexceptional, must have delighted the Minstermen, who were resolute and concentrated.

It was devoid of incident but it was certainly not lacking in interest for football aficionados, who were left to wax lyrical about the contrast in styles.

Rovers were about as subtle as a sledgehammer used to crack a nut.

Time and again, Scott Howie, the Rovers 'keeper, punted the ball long to the head of the burly Martin Cameron leaving the remaining Pirates to fight for the scraps.

Abrasive and direct, the only time they looked like breaking through was from dead-balls and it took a good one-handed save from Alan Fettis to parry Andy Thomson's far-post header from David Hillier's corner.

In contrast, City looked to prise Rovers open as the ball was cherished rather than dispatched skywards at the first opportunity.

Bright and busy, solid rather than spectacular, City had Rovers pegged back for long periods and while the final ball left much to be desired there could be few complaints at a professional opening 45 minutes on foreign turf.

The second half was different. It took a while to get going but once it did it was worth the wait.

City started the brighter, Christian Fox firing an effort at Howie before Lee Bullock flashed the ball across the face of goal.

But it was still nip and tuck and there was little sense of what was to come until the Pirates seemingly got their noses in front just before the hour mark.

A mistake by John Fielding let in Kevin Gall and his cross was prodded home by Nathan Ellington.

However, Ellington had strayed off-side and the goal was ruled out.

Nevertheless it lifted Rovers and within ten minutes they claimed the lead following a rare mistake by Fettis

The 'keeper came a long way to claim Thomson's hoof only for Mar-tin Cameron to steal possession.

Having being forced wide, the striker still had much to do but turned and lifted his shot over the retreating Fettis and into the corner of the net.

The goal prompted more urgency from the Minstermen and within five minutes they were level thanks to a piece of quick-thinking from Graham Potter.

Ronnie Mauge needlessly hand-balled almost 30 yards from goal and as the hosts took time to line up their wall Potter curled his free-kick into the top corner of the goal.

The game was more open now and the sense was it would not be the end of the scoring.

True enough, Potter and City's joy was short-lived as the former England Under-21 international turned from hero to unfortunate villain on 83 minutes.

Ellington fired a cross in from the left, Cameron missed the header only for the ball to hit Potter at the far post and trickle over the line.

The game looked up for City and they were grateful to substitute Marc Salvati for preventing it from being put beyond their reach when he cleared an Ellington shot off the line.

It proved a priceless intervention as deep into stoppage time, City secured the draw.

Darren Edmondson's ball down the line was picked up by Michael Proctor. The on-loan striker's low centre was inexplicably sliced by Bristol defender Steve Foster into the path of Richard Cooper, who drilled home from 12 yards for his first goal in senior football.

It's only a point. But that is exactly the point. Another defeat would have left tomorrow's home encounter with Plymouth looking ominous. But with the bad run ended City can look to start against the Pilgrims where they finished against the Pirates with confidence rather than trepidation.

Bristol Rovers 2 York City 2

Bristol Rovers: Howie, Wilson, Thomson, Foster, Foran, Lopez, Gall, Mauge, Hillier (Pritchard 34m), Cameron, Ellington (Hammond 88m) ) Sent off: None

Scorers: Cameron 68, Potter (og) 83.

York City: Fettis 6, Edmondson 8, Hocking 8, Fielding 6 (Mathie 88m), Potter 8, Cooper 7, Bullock 8, Brass 8, Fox 7 (Salvati 70m, 7), Nogan 7, Proctor 7.

Subs not used: Howarth, Basham, Stamp Booked: Fielding 11m (foul), Edmondson 89m (foul) Sent off: None. Scorers: Potter 73, Cooper 90

Man of the match: Lee Bullock: Bounced back from a poor display against Carlisle with a performance full of selfless running and endeavour.

Attendance: 6,933

Ref: Graham Hegley (Bishops Stortford)

Updated: 12:00 Monday, September 24, 2001