Evesham 3, Stone 3

EVESHAM resumed their West Midlands Premier League campaign against Staffordshire opponents on Saturday and secured a draw after a closely-fought tussle.

The home side started brightly and controlled the game early on although their possession resulted in few scoring chances.

Matt Baumber and Stuart Harris were dominant in centre midfield and their constructive play created opportunities for the forwards. However, good play by Chris Perry and Stuart Bearcroft was let down by a final poor pass or disappointing decision making.

As Evesham squandered possession in the final third, the visitors gained in confidence and settled into a counter-attacking game.

For the most part, Neil Sollis and James Tickle were comfortable but a fast counter attack saw the Evesham defence outnumbered and Stone took the lead against the run of play.

Evesham kept their composure and continued to press forward and eventually their pressure resulted in their first short corner that Baumber would have converted had it not been stopped illegally on the line.

Martin Husbands, though, made no mistake from the penalty spot to place the ball under the outstretched goalkeeper.

The second half saw much of the same with Evesham dominating possession but again chances were scarce.

As the game went on Jamie Dodgson, Perry and Bearcroft seemed to keep possession better in the final third and their resilience created a second short corner from which a Baumber drag flick this time proved unstoppable.

The lead was shortlived as Stone tried to play further forward and their period of dominance saw the award of a penalty stroke that keeper James Nicholas was unlucky not to save.

In the final ten minutes both sides pressed for a win. Nick Lloyd played further forward and his individual skill saw an incisive run into the area before he unleashed a powerful strike that flew past the Stone keeper.

Again the visitors were given a final opportunity - once again from surrendered possession - and they took full advantage to make the clash all-square.

After the game, skipper Husbands commented: "Despite our possession, a draw was probably a fair result. We still need to be more clinical in attack and sometimes try to score in every attack rather than being patient and keeping the ball."

Evesham travel to second-placed Stratford on Saturday when the Warwickshire side will be out for revenge following their defeat at Evesham last October.

Coaching Solutions West Midlands

Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

Wednesbury 13 11 2 0 42 14 35

Stratford 13 8 1 4 28 21 25

Kidderminster 13 7 2 4 51 46 23

Old Halesonians 13 7 1 5 30 26 22

KH Pickwick* 13 7 0 6 26 23 20

Solihull Blossom 13 6 1 6 36 28 19

Stone 13 5 4 4 52 45 19

Warwick 13 5 3 5 25 22 18

Evesham 13 5 1 7 30 32 16

Bloxwich 13 3 0 10 17 36 9

Old Silhillians 13 3 0 10 17 36 9

Old Wulfrunians 13 1 2 10 27 50 5

Division Two

P W D L F A Pts

West Bromwich 13 12 1 0 67 10 37

Stafford 13 10 1 2 48 21 31

Pershore 13 10 1 2 47 22 31

Standard 13 7 3 3 24 23 24

Newtown 13 7 1 5 57 25 22

Kynoch 13 6 3 4 45 27 21

Ludlow 13 5 1 7 40 29 16

Ather Adders 12 2 5 5 19 27 11

Chad Corbett 13 3 2 8 29 68 11

Berks & Balsall 13 2 2 9 28 40 8

Aston Univ 11 1 0 10 12 47 3

Malvern* 11 1 0 10 12 47 3

*Points deducted.