Evesham Utd 0, Sutton Coldfield Tn 0

FIVE previous matches involving these two teams had seen 37 goals find the back of the net, writes Mervyn Collins.

Sadly, Saturday's Western Division game drew a blank but United certainly salvaged plenty of pride after successive defeats when they leaked nine goals.

The visitors, meanwhile, will have been disappointed not to have added to their tally of 18 in three games on an afternoon of dogged defending and lacklustre attacking.

The Robins fully deserved a point in the face of severe provocation from a Sutton side - players from which "left their foot in" far too often yet were allowed to constantly escape punishment.

Both sides hit the woodwork with Steve Lutz's 12th minute strike squirming through the grasp of Justin Bray before striking a post.

Sutton's misfortune came on the half-hour when Chris Taylor fumbled a flick from a throw in but luckily an upright came to his rescue.

The Common Road stopper was his side's saviour on the day, thwarting efforts from Jamie Russell, Richie Gardner and Simon Tucker as the goal hungry visitors sought to add to their impressive recent tally.

Top scorer Tucker spurned his side's best chance while Gary Barnett rescued Evesham with a goalline clearance from the unmarked Steve Farmer's first half header.

Inderpaul Khela was Evesham's star man. The Kidderminster youngster was in solid form firstly alongside Matt Gardiner and then in tandem with Paul West who replaced the injured centre half late in the first half.

Phil Mullen's charges kept their discipline with Lutz the sole recipient of a yellow card - seconds after a late tackle from Dean Baker, who, like Michael Gray, was allowed to get away with far too many late lunges.

The latter's late stab at Nathan Jukes in stoppage time was missed by the officials on a day when only the home side emerged with any credit despite failing to win for the first time in six games.