Wantage Town 1 Evesham United 1
Southern League Division One South & West
EVESHAM marked their 1,000th game in the Southern League with a disappointing draw at Alfredian Park on Tuesday.
Captain Matt Sysum headed United into a first half lead but the home side, who started the game bottom of the table, hit back through Mark Francis’ penalty after the break to earn the Freds an unexpected point.
It was a frustrating night for Paul Collicutt’s men who should have wrapped things up by half time but allowed Wantage back into the game to earn their first point after three defeats on the trot.
United were in control from the start and after a series of near misses finally took the lead on 22 minutes.
Nick Stanley sent over a left-wing cross which was met by Sysum who guided home a well placed header past Ed Cavanaugh to make it 1-0.
The Town stopper then got a hand on Adam Mann’s deflected free kick and shouts for a penalty after Lance Smith and Paul Fahy were both bundled over in the box were turned down as United continued to press for a second goal.
Despite being camped in the Wantage half, the half time whistle blew with United holding just a slender one-goal lead.
Soon after the restart, Cavanaugh was at full stretch to touch over Fahy’s rasping drive but, against the run of play, Sysum fouled Todd Hathaway in the box on 57 minutes and Francis made no mistake from 12 yards.
Fahy then got clean through on goal but blazed his shot wide of the target with only Cavanaugh to beat.
Before the end Sysum’s goalbound header was cleared off the line by Ryan Elliot and, despite forcing numerous free kicks and corners before the end, United failed to deliver a decisive second goal and the inconsistent start to the season continued.
The Robins, who have five points from four games, are in FA Cup action on Saturday when they visit Northern Premier League Division One South outfit Market Drayton Town in the preliminary round.
Should a replay be required, it will take place at the Jubilee Stadium on Tuesday.
