EVESHAM United were held to a Southern League Division One South and West home draw for the second game running.

The Robins were held 2-2 by lowly Paulton Rovers at the Jubilee Stadium after a late equaliser following a 1-1 draw with North Leigh the previous weekend.

They threw away a golden opportunity to pull further ahead of third-placed Tiverton Town who are two points behind with a game in hand.

Boss Paul Collicutt will be keen to return to winning ways at fourth-from-bottom Yate Town on Saturday (3pm).

United’s preparations were not ideal with Linden Dovey, Ashley Williams, Paul Fahy and Adam Mann all injured, adding to long-term casualties Joe Turley, Carl Brown and Sam Pearson.

Evesham’s Garyn Preen, playing the last game of his loan from Hungerford Town, and Liam Harding had efforts safely gathered by Andy Hannah.

But on 15 minutes Sol Wheatley ran from his own half before finding Kailan Gould who swept a shot past Kevin Sawyer to put Rovers in front.

The lead lasted just two minutes with Lorcan Sheehan getting on the end of Nick Stanley’s free-kick to head home.

United enjoyed their best spell and took a 38th-minute lead through Lance Smith who buried his 27th goal of the season from close range after Preen’s shot was spilled by Hannah.

But in the last action of the half United rode their luck with Gould’s drive coming back off the bar and then Reeko Best got clear only to shoot weakly at Sawyer.

United’s makeshift line-up lost their shape and direction in the second half with Paulton looking a threat going forward.

Four minutes from the end Wheatley’s shot from outside the box took a wicked deflection and finished up in the top corner with Sawyer going the wrong way.

United: Sawyer, Odiero (Williams 54), Stanley, Haskayne, Harding, Sheehan, Preen (Kennedy 70), Bryan, Smith, Magee (Mann 79), Binns. Subs not used: Fahy, Sloggett.

Attendance: 235.