Evesham United 1, Brackley Town 1 HAVING twice overcome the odds recently to win matches with ten men, the Robins failed to claim maximum points last Saturday when Brackley were forced to play the final 34 minutes a man short, writes Mervyn Collins.

However. it was still a creditable point for the home side against a Town side hoping to make it 13 wins in 14 Southern League starts in what was an entertaining contest, especially in the first half.

Richard Ball was heavily involved - in the right kind of action this week - giving the Town defence a tough time but unable to add to his 20-goal tally.

The striker's best chance came in the 23rd minute when Simon Fitter's superb pass sent him scampering clear but Richard Knight blocked his left-footed goalbound strike.

Tom Winters and Elliot Sandy threatened for the visitors in an open game but it was Scott Hadland who came closest to breaching the home rearguard after 24 minutes but Nathan Vaughan produced an excellent diving save.

Missing Steve Duncan, Mark Hands, Dean Wellington, Grant Pinkney, James Fox and Steve Lutz, Evesham produced some fine attacking play. Mark Owen's left-footer flashed a yard wide both Ball and Liam Daly saw headers drop just the wrong side of the crossbar and it was something of a surprise when Town went into the break a goal up.

There was no danger when Scott Hadland ended up on the floor on the stroke of half-time following a Daly challenge but a spot-kick was awarded and Matt Murphy fired the ball into the corner past Vaughan's despairing dive.

However, it took the Robins a little more than a minute to make the game all-square when Knight missed Fitter's corner and the ball appeared to hit debutant Duncan Willetts and roll over the goalline.

Former Evesham midfielder Guy Hadland was then sent off for two yellow cards in the space of two minutes and the impetus was with Evesham.

Unfortunately, the width they provided in the first half was missing and chances were at a premium.

Willetts saw a deflected shot flash inches wide, Fitter had a shot saved and another fierce drive blocked while Ball's eye for goal saw his late angled volley clutched to safety by Knight.

Winters went close for the visitors who felt aggrieved when the ball ended up in the net following a 73rd minute corner but the referee had spotted a push on Vaughan.

There were similar moans in the closing stages from the home contingent when the ball appeared to strike a Town hand in the area on a couple of occasions but Evesham's seventh league draw of the season and Brackley's first will doubtless satisfy both parties.