A JAMES Wood equaliser spared Stourport Swifts' blushes last night as they drew 1-1 with Midland Alliance outfit Westfields at Walshes Meadow.

Wood, who won the Midland Alliance golden boot with Oldbury last term, led the front-line well in this landlords versus tenants affair.

The game started slowly, with the first chance not coming until 17 minutes when Westfields' keeper Mark Hopkins flapped at a long ball lofted into the box and Alex Kilgour's lob sailed over.

Good work from Wood, five minutes later, saw him set up Andrew Wright whose shot was blocked on the line.

A sweeping move then almost saw the Dr Martens Western Division side take the lead when a long ball from Craig Webb found John Cotterill on the left and he cut it inside for Wood who turned and forced a great save from Hopkins.

But it was Westfields who went in one up when a long shot from Roy Jordan was helped into the net by Derek Craddock.

Eight minutes after the break, Wood forced the equaliser when he picked up a cross from Jones in the box to see his shot well saved by Hopkins, but the rebound came out to him and he smashed it home.

Swifts dominated after this, with a John Shirley header hitting the bar, although Westfield's defence generally coped well.

Meanwhile, Evesham United went down 4-2 to Hinckley United in last night's friendly at Common Road.

Despite missing a number of key players through injury, Evesham surprised their Dr Martens League Premier Division opponents by taking a seventh minute lead.

Marc Burrow met Mark Wolsey's corner and headed powerfully past Tom Whittle.

The Knitters levelled in the 35th minute when Jamie Lenton headed in Neil Cartwright's cross from the right.

Four minutes later, Cartwright put Hinckley in front with a blistering free kick from 20 yards.

On 51 minutes, Wesley Joyce only cleared Lenton's cross as far as the on-rushing Leon Doughty and he netted with a well-placed header past the diving Tim Clarke.

Hinckley scored their fourth in the 70th minute when former Hereford United striker Scott Voice curled a low free kick past Clarke.

Evesham had the final say when they pulled a goal back five minutes later. The quick-thinking Joyce stroked in a free kick with Whittle still arranging his defensive wall.

United travel to Oldbury United on Saturday for their latest pre-season friendly, kick-off 3pm.