BEN Hayes’ late strike to give Evesham United an 80th-minute lead was cancelled out in the final four minutes as Bristol Manor Farm earned a point at the Jubilee Stadium.
The visitors started Saturday’s Southern League Division One South game applying early pressure but, were unable to get past a resolute Evesham defence. It was then the turn of the home side to take the game to The Farm but Tom Chamberlain and Karnell Chambers were unable to find the target.
With 12 minutes on the clock Adam Mace’s precision corner dropped right under the bar, only to be parried away by Ben John in the Bristol goal.
With both sides cancelling each other out the next real chance came on the half hour, BMF’s Ben Bament cleverly work his way into the Evesham box before unleashing a shot from a wide angle, only to see it cleared by the dependable Matt Williams.
Evesham had a chance to take the lead right on half-time, substitute Sean Brain got behind the visitors’ defence and his cross found the head of Hayes whose header went just over the bar.
As the second half got under way it was obvious that both sides had gone up a gear. Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist almost gave the visitors the lead, denied by the Robins crossbar.
Evesham were denied by two goal-line clearances in three minutes. Karnell Chambers twisted his way into the box with his shot cleared off the line. The same player was involved in an excellent one-two move with Chamberlain whose strike was again cleared off the line.
With the home side now dominating play, it only seemed like a matter of time before a goal would come. In the 65th minute Hayes found Brain in the box, his quick shot beat the keeper, only to be denied by the post.
The 185-strong crowd had to wait until the last 10 minutes of the game to see a goal. Evesham took the lead when Ben Hayes dribbled his way into the box before firing a well-placed strike wide of the visiting keeper.
The points were shared when Evesham were not able to clear the ball from their box, Bristol’s Leigh-Gilchrist scored from close range with 86 minutes on the clock.
Evesham United: Clayton, Lymn, Johnson, Williams, Paddock, Sheehan, Hayes, Chamberlain, Lucas (Brain 38), Chambers, Mace. Subs Not Used: Hunt, Clayton, Owusu