EVESHAM United remain unbeaten away from home in Southern League Division One South & West this season after earning a creditable 0-0 draw at Yate Town on Saturday.
It was the Robins’ third goalless draw in four away league fixtures this season and, as with the season opener against Yate which the visitors won 1-0 at the Jubilee Stadium, the match was hard fought.
The point at Lodge Road made it four games without defeat for United as their watertight defence and popular goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer kept his fourth clean sheet in eight league games.
For the third match running, United manager Paul Collicutt named the same starting 11 and he should have seen his side take the lead after just 14 minutes but winger George Washbourne, after getting clean through, failed to beat Martin Horsall as he disappointingly rolled the ball wide with only the Bluebirds keeper to beat.
Yate responded and the reliable Sawyer was called into action for the first time to make a smart reflex save to keep out the unmarked Tom Warren from close range.
Opportunities, however, dried up after this, although before half time Nick Stanley did fire over and then planted a shot into the side-netting.
The second half continued in the same fashion, although the only significant chance fell to the hosts when defender Liam Harding came to United’s rescue by heading off the line after Jake Cox – on his return to Yate – had rounded Sawyer on the edge of the box.
There was a lot of effort from both sides but little end product and neither keeper was unduly troubled again.
United did finish slightly the stronger as they forced Horsall to make routine saves from Louis McGrory and Adam Mann headers but the contest inevitably finished all square and a draw was always on the cards long before referee Mr Berrow blew the final whistle.
Eighth placed Evesham visit 11th placed Didcot Town on Saturday.