Hall's cracker rescues point

IT'S DIFFICULT to know where to start after Saturday's draw but concentrating on the positives would appear to be the best place in the context of United's successful season.

The point brought back from the capital was enough to leave the Robins, playing in borrowed shirts as their stripes were said to clash with Ashford's orange and white shirts, in the second promotion spot and the rise in status still in their own hands.

In terms of their rivals, the result was the best of the afternoon in terms of standard of opposition - a result achieved through a much improved final 15 minutes when the introduction of Danny Williams added welcome spark to a powder-puff front line.

Williams' display was another plus and his surges down the left caused Ashford untold problems and opened up what until then was a dreadful match between two top six sides.

Matty Hall's 76th minute equaliser was another high point but, like Williams, the former Redditch and Moor Green man, would appear to be a law unto himself in terms of what he is going to produce.

However, when he received the ball just inside the Town half, the winger raced down the right before cutting inside and smacking a left-footer from 20 yards that took a slight deflection before hitting the roof of the net.

Tim Clarke was again rarely troubled but it was another deflection that left the goalkeeper helpless when Ryan Lake's 38th minute free-kick hit the Evesham wall and looped agonisingly into the goal.

The scorer was within inches of doubling the lead with a stoppage-time dead-ball strike but the healthy United contingent sipped their half-time cuppa firmly in the knowledge that the visitors could only get better!

The sight of Dave Busst and Paul West sat in the dugout five minutes before their players appeared for the second half means that this reporter will be spared a roasting if he criticises the Common Road men.

There was a surprise when Jermaine Clarke made way for Williams eight minutes after the break but the substitute's first attacking foray left Richard Ball with a free header that he directed over the bar.

Seconds thoughts over taking off Leon Blake 17 minutes from time proved another good move as one of Simon Fitter's first touches led to Blake feeding Hall for the leveller.

The game now opened up and Williams was creating havoc down the left but a couple of raids saw no one on hand to latch on to the final cross.

However, when Gavin O'Toole's pass saw Ball escape the offside flag, the striker rounded the goalkeeper but left himself with a tight angle and his finish flashed across the face of goal.

That was one of United's negatives as the striker also failed to hit the target with a free shot early on and Neil O'Sullivan did the same when only finding the side-netting from ten yards.

There was more frustration as a succession of set-pieces went to waste although the returning Steve Duncan did make contact with a Hall corner but his header was easily saved.

The players were left to stew in their own abjectness at half-time and, after a bit of tweaking with personnel and formation, sorrow turned to joy on another day when promotion and play-off jitters again affected the majority of sides chasing the three promotion places on offer.