Robins left to rue misssed spot-kick (From Cotswold Journal)

Robins left to rue misssed spot-kick

11:10am Thursday 7th February 2013 in Sport

SIMON Fitter’s first-half penalty miss proved costly as Evesham United were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Abingdon United at a windswept Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium.

The Robins’ lowest Evo-Stik Southern Football League crowd this season of 133 saw them fail again to pick up a first win in a weather-hit 2013 at their fourth attempt.

Fourteenth-placed Evesham head to second-from-bottom Winchester City, the most likely current relegation candidates from Division One South and West, on Saturday (3pm) hoping to move away from the struggling pack.

Midfielder Fitter wasted the golden chance on 16 minutes when his spot-kick, after Carl Brown was fouled in the box, crashed against the bar before being cleared.

United, however, had better luck three minutes before halftime when a ball from the left found Brown who found the bottom corner.

In the second period, dangerman Brown rolled a shot against the Abingdon woodwork with Foster nowhere to be seen.

When play switched to the other end, Robins keeper Tom Cross saved at the second attempt from Toby Nowell.

But the writing was on the wall leading up to Abingdon's equaliser on 67 minutes. Jamie Hyde made a clumsy challenge on Nowell in the penalty area and up stepped Aaron Woodley to score from the spot.

Abingdon were content with a point and defended in numbers to protect their point.

The nearest Evesham came to grabbing their first win of 2013 was when substitute Leigh Downing went close after being set up by Brown.

The Robins’ home game with Mangotsfield United on Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Evesham: Cross, Wilson, Hyde, Sysom, Jackson, Blake, Fitter, Adkins (Downing 71), Palmer, Brown, Gayton. Subs not used; Kandekore, Clarke, Hardwick, Dell.

Referee: Mr A Matthews (Stroud).

• Evesham are running a coach to Winchester on Saturday, leaving the Jubilee Stadium at 11am. Supporters can reserve a seat by calling Mike Peplow on 07889-011539.