Evesham United 1 Mangotsfield United 1

EVESHAM United avoided defeat for the first time in five home matches but failed to beat Southern League Division One West strugglers Mangotsfield United.

Following a run of four home losses in all competitions it was no surprise when Robins manager Paul Collicutt rang the changes with five from the midweek 3-1 home beating by Kidlington.

The game started in an untidy manner with neither side looking as if they wanted to take control in the first 20 minutes.

Second-from-bottom Mangotsfield began to take most of the possession but never really looked like they were going to create anything.

But the game sprang to life in the 34th minute when a Bradley Gray corner was headed home by loan striker Ethan Moore.

Mangotsfield’s best and possibly only chance of the half came in the 39th minute with Kane Simpson free in the box but his attempted shot went wide before Evesham finished the period stronger.

As the second half got under way it looked as though Mangotsfield were not going to take any risks and waited for Evesham to make errors to regain possession.

But the home side obliged with some poor passing on a far-too-regular basis.

Evesham were punished in the 54th minute when forward Simpson’s deflected shot gave keeper Kevin Sawyer no chance and the visitors drew level.

For the last third of the game both sides found it difficult to keep hold of the ball but the Robins had the better moments.

Gray shot just over the bar following a good period of Evesham pressure on 63 minutes.

Moore picked up the ball just inside the Mangotsfield half and made a great run but his final ball to Lewis Powell was not a good one.

Then came Paul Fahy with another bursting run which ended with Carl Brown firing just over.

The visitors looked like they may have grabbed all three points in the 76th minute with a Nick Peare header evading all in the Evesham defence but the post came to Sawyer's rescue.

In the last 10 minutes, sixth-placed Evesham looked to be throwing everything at Mangotsfield to get the win with Brown going close on a couple of occasions.

Substitute Adam Mann also had his chances, the closest of which just skimmed the bar, but Evesham could not claim the three points.

It is the turn of the Evesham youth team to take centre stage on Wednesday night when they make club history.

They host League One's Shrewsbury Town in the FA Youth Cup first round which is the furthest the Robins have gone in the competition.

Evesham: Sawyer, Sheehan, Bennett, Haskayne, M Williams, A Williams, Gray (Bryan 74), Brown, Moore, Powell (Mann 67), Fahy (Liddiard 74). Subs not used: Hancock, Odiero.

Attendance: 201.