Smith: Equaliser
Evesham United staged a dramatic second-half comeback to earn a replay with Northern Premier League Barwell in the Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round. Despite enjoying most of the play, United trailed 2-0 at half-time and looked to be on their way out of the competition. But the introduction of substitutes Lance Smith and Leon Jeanne early in the second-half transformed United`s fortunes and in the end were unfortunate not to win the tie at the first attempt.
As early as the 3rd minute United were denied an opening goal when Matt Sysum`s header was cleared off the line by Owen Story. This set the tone for the rest of the half, with higher-graded Barwell on the back foot and relying to counter attack on the break.
Lewis Binns and Adam Mann went close and Canaries keeper Max Smith-Vernham made important stops to keep out Elliot Kennedy and Paul Fahy. But against the run of play, Barwell silenced the home crowd by taking the lead in somewhat controversial circumstances. Linden Dovey clearly played the ball in attempting to tackle Amarvir Sandhu in the box but referee Mr Gould thought otherwise and awarded a penalty-kick which Brady Hickey duly converted. Good work by Binns ended with Mann pulling his shot wide but in first-half stoppage-time the game looked to be going Barwell`s way as Story burst into the United box and placed a low drive past Kevin Sawyer for an unlikely 2-0 lead.
At the start of the second-half, the unmarked Mann was unable to get a touch on Bradley Williams` delivery across the face of goal before Smith and Jeanne were introduced by boss Paul Collicutt. Jeanne made an immediate impact forcing Smith-Vernham to make a smart save to his left before the United pressure finally paid off in the 66th minute with Smith sending a header towards goal that was sliced into his own net by Story for 2-1. Barwell then shot themselves in the foot by having Sandhu sent-off for a second yellow card for diving leaving the visitors to play the remaining thirteen minutes with ten men. Four minutes after Sandhu`s departure, United deservedly levelled the scores at 2-2, courtesy of Smith`s close-range finish after a terrific run by Jeanne. This set-up a frantic finish, Smith-Vernham got down well to save from substitute Sam Pearson and then Jeanne drove agonisingly wide. In added time, United rattled up a host of corners, Smith had his shot blocked in front of goal but the Barwell defence somehow held out to force a replay at their Kirkby Road Sports Ground on Tuesday night. The winers will be at home to Ilkeston in the next round.
UNITED:
Sawyer, Dovey, Wellon, Turley, Sysum, B.Williams, Kennedy (Smith 54), A.Williams (Pearson 82), Mann, Fahy, Binns (Jeanne 54).
Subs not used: Gilder, Bryan, Sloggett
Referee: Mr R.Gould (Rugeley)
Attendance: 237
