Valuable point as leaders stumble (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Valuable point as leaders stumble

Evesham Utd 1,

Swindon Supermarine 1

ONE point won or two lost? That was the question on every Evesham fan's lips after the hosts had failed to claim a maximum haul for the first time in six league outings, writes Mervyn Collins.

In the context of positions at the top of the table, the point moved them closer to inactive Mangotsfield and a point further clear of third-placed Clevedon, surprise 5-0 losers at Bedworth.

On an afternoon when only Brackley of the top eight sides won, and that at fellow promotion chasers Bromsgrove, the point could prove crucial in the final count but the Robins will nevertheless be disappointed not to have tripled their haul.

Second best and indebted to Tim Clarke's heroics for 87 minutes, United took the lead when substitute Lee Knight joyfully knocked in the rebound after Matty Hall's shot from Richard Ball's free-kick had been blocked on the line.

However, a similar set-piece at the other end two minutes later, saw the home rearguard leave Lance Lewis unmarked six yards out to head in a deserved equaliser.

It would have been a travesty had Swindon not taken something back to Wiltshire but the manner of the exciting climax to an otherwise mediocre match will have annoyed Evesham's management team.

Boss Dave Busst decided to leave top scorer Ball on the bench, presumably to protect him from the threat of a ban, and start with Danny Williams alongside Jermaine Clarke.

The front pair never really clicked although the latter saw a 16th minute header cleared off the line from Simon Fitter's flag-kick.

The recalled midfielder lasted only another 21 minutes before making way for Neil O'Sullivan in a tactical switch that served to bring an improved home showing after the interval.

The points could so easily have been wrapped up by then had goalkeeper Clarke not produced a handful of saves as his normally impregnable defence was repeatedly torn apart by a youthful Supermarine outfit.

The experienced custodian tipped over an early left-footer from Nathan Edwards before patting away a volley from Adie Adams.

Tony Joyce sent a 14th minute shot into the side-netting before Clarke produced three fine stops as half-time approached.

His best effort saw him divert a closer-range strike from Giles Harris for a corner then deny Steve Jenkins after a mistake by Marc Burrow before ensuring interval parity when keeping out Joyce's shot with his legs.

Clarke was in action within eight minutes of the restart to smother a dangerous cross from Adams before Hall and Clarke combined well only to see a defender beat Burrow to the flank man's near post cross.

Williams made way for Ball with 35 minutes left on the watch and almost immediately combined with Hall and Clarke but Tom King came out well to foil the gangling striker.

Ball raced clear in the 64th minute but a combination of a post and a defender kept the scoresheet blank.

The home defence was again exposed after 69 minutes but Jenkins directed a near post header narrowly the wrong side of Clarke's goal.

Knight replaced Burrow in midfield a minute later and United's front two opened up the Swindon back line but King turned Clarke's strike for a corner.

Substitute Lewis miskicked ten yards out before Clarke comfortably fielded Leon Blake's miskick and then easily prevented Steve Cook giving the visitors the advantage.

Evesham never settled for the point they looked like relinquishing and their attacking efforts were rewarded when Knight broke the deadlock only for Lewis to finally overcome Clarke's magnificent resistance a minute from time.