Match Report: Evesham Utd 1 vs Cheltenham Town 1

Evesham continued their encouraging build-up to the new season with a well-deserved draw with neighbours Cheltenham Town at a hot and sunny Spiers & Hartwell Jubilee Stadium.

Only a late equaliser by Andy Haworth prevented an Evesham victory against Mark Yates` League Two side. Evesham who were playing their third friendly in five days made the early running and shocked the visitors by taking an 8th minute lead. Kevin Slack`s deep corner was played back into the box by Nathan Jackson to prolific striker Ashley Edenborough who opened his account in United colours by glancing a well-directed header beyond Town stopper Ben McNamara. Cheltenham defender Jack Deamer then prevented Lance Smith from extending  United`s lead when he cleared off the line after the Evesham frontman had rounded the advancing McNamara.

Duncan Culley responded for Cheltenham by pulling his shot narrowly wide following good work by the dangerous Zack Kotwica and then more silky skills by Kotwica resulted in the outstanding Kevin Sawyer making smart saves in quick succession from Jamie Cureton and James Bowen. Play switched to the other end when Slack and Smith combined well before setting-up Edenborough who tested McNamara with a powerful strike from 18 yards.

Sawyer excelled himself in the second-half with brilliant saves to push aside strikes by Kotwica, Matt Richards and substitute Jermaine Hylton as the full-timers pressed for an equaliser. After a period of possession, however, the leveller did arrive deep into stoppage-time when Lee Vaughan sprinted down the right and crossed low to the back post where the unmarked Haworth tapped-in from close range.