Evesham United 2 Paulton Rovers 2
Southern League Division One South & West
THE ROBINS were held to a frustrating home draw for the second successive game as their visitors took a deserved point back to Bristol on Saturday.
United were missing numerous key players through injury but were comfortably below the standards they have come to expect during recent months, although they remain second in the table.
A week on from the 1-1 draw at home to North Leigh, lowly Paulton scored a late equaliser to earn a draw and make it another frustrating afternoon for the home faithful.
United’s preparations were not ideal as key players Linden Dovey, Ashley Williams, Paul Fahy and Adam Mann were all missing from the starting line-up through injury, adding to long-term casualties Joe Turley, Carl Brown and Sam Pearson.
It took a while for the contest to get going, although on loan Garyn Preen – playing his last game before returning to Hungerford Town – and Liam Harding both had efforts safely gathered by Rovers keeper Andy Hannan.
However, on 15 minutes, Sol Wheatley was allowed to run unchallenged from inside his own half before finding Kailan Gould who swept in a shot past Evesham keeper Kevin Sawyer to put the visitors in front.
The lead lasted just two minutes though as Lorcan Sheehan got on the end of Nick Stanley’s free kick to head beyond Hannan to make it 1-1.
United then enjoyed their best spell in the game and took a 38th-minute lead courtesy of top scorer Lance Smith who buried his 27th goal of the season from close range after Preen’s shot had been spilled by Hannan.
However, in the last action of the first half, United rode their luck when Gould’s drive came back off the crossbar and then Reeko Best got clear, only to shoot weakly at Sawyer who was able to make the save.
United’s makeshift line-up lost their shape and direction in the second half as Paulton looked a threat going forward and an equaliser was seemingly just around the corner.
Sure enough, it came four minutes from time when Wheatley’s shot from outside the box took a wicked deflection and finished up in the top corner with Sawyer going the wrong way.
The Robins will aim to return to winning ways when they visit struggling Yate Town on Saturday.
