EVESHAM United earned a 1-1 draw with Brackley Town in Southern League Division One West after two successive cup defeats.

United did more than enough to claim a win but a combination of near misses and stout defending restricted the Robins to just one point.

They made the perfect start by taking an 11th-minute lead. Jermaine Clarke pounced from close range after Brackley 'keeper Richard Knight had pushed aside a powerful header from Wes Joyce.

Knight prevented United from extending their lead when he somehow got a hand to Steve Duncan's point blank header and turned it over.

Evesham suffered a blow on the half-hour when 'keeper Dave Adey limped off with a hamstring injury to be replaced by Tim Clarke.

Before half-time, Knight was again in action to save from Duncan and Leon Blake.

Early in the second-half, Clarke was guilty of an astonishing miss when he snatched at his shot with only Knight to beat. This was to prove costly because, in their next attack, Brackley drew level.

The United defence made a hash of clearing player-manager Mike Ford's cross and Gary Wickens headed home.

Evesham went on to dominate the rest of the game without clinching a winner.

They could not find their way through a packed Brackley defence but when they did Knight denied Gavin O'Toole and Joyce.

Evesham: Adey 6 (T Clarke 31, 6), Watson 6, Pinkney 6, Knight 6, Carns 6, *O'Toole 7 (Fitter 84), Blake 6, Duncan 6, Joyce 6, J Clarke 5, S Williams 6. Subs not used: Sangha, D Williams, Hands.

Attendance: 158.