HOSTS Evesham United secured a deserved point from a dour 0-0 draw with high-riding Larkhall Athletic in Southern League Division One South and West.

Defences dominated as both sides struggled to get their passing game together and a stalemate looked inevitable long before the final whistle.

The first-half was light on entertainment with the ball spending most of its time in the air and goalmouth action at both ends hard to come by.

A good Evesham move down the left ended with Connor Thompson making a smart save from Ashley Edenborough.

With the goal at his mercy, Lance Smith rolled the loose ball wide with Thompson stranded.

Smith’s pace then took him clear but he failed to hit the target with only Thompson to beat.

In a rare Larkhall attack, Robins keeper Kevin Sawyer made a fine double save from Luke Bryan and collected a Joe Tumelty header.

The poor quality of football continued after the interval with little to excite the crowd.

Smith struck several efforts into the side-netting and Sawyer kicked away Bryan’s drive.

Evesham: Sawyer, Wilson, Stanley, Wood, Sysum, Dovey, Jackson (Kennedy 84), Brown, Edenborough, Smith (Williams 80), Slack (Washbourne 73). Subs not used: Drake, Harding.

Attendance: 206.