For the second game running Evesham were unable to claim maximum points and threw away a golden opportunity to pull further ahead of second placed Tiverton Town by drawing 2-2 with Paulton Rovers at the Jubilee Stadium. A week on from the stalemate with North Leigh, lowly Paulton scored a late equaliser to earn a deserved draw and make it another frustrating afternoon for the home faithful. United`s preparations were not ideal with key players Linden Dovey, Ashley Williams, Paul Fahy and Adam Mann all missing from the starting line-up through injury, adding to long term casualties Joe Turley, Carl Brown and Sam Pearson.
Sheehan: Opened the scoring
It took a while for the contest to get going, although on loan Garyn Preen who was playing his last game before returning to Hungerford Town and Liam Harding both had efforts safely gathered by Andy Hannan. But on 15 minutes, Sol Wheatley was allowed to run unchallenged from inside his own half before finding Kailan Gould who swept in a shot past Kevin Sawyer to put the visitors in front. The lead lasted just two minutes with Lorcan Sheehan getting on the end of Nick Stanley`s free kick to head beyond Hannan to make it 1-1. United then enjoyed their best spell in the game and took a 38th minute lead courtesy of top scorer Lance Smith who buried his 27th goal of the season from close range after Preen`s shot had been spilled by Hannan. However in the last action of the half, United rode their luck with Gould`s drive coming back off the crossbar and then Reeko Best got clear only to shoot weakly at Sawyer who was able to make the save.
United`s makeshift line-up lost their shape and direction in the second half with Paulton looking a threat going forward and an equaliser seemingly just around the corner. And sure enough it came four minutes from the end when 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
Referee: Mr R.Hathaway (Tamworth)
Attendance: 235
