Evesham Utd 1, Halesowen Tn 1

TWO long balls, a goal at either end and both sides disappointed at only taking a solitary point from Tuesday night's cagey Common Road contest, writes Mervyn Collins.

When Richard Ball fired United ahead nine minutes before the break, the finish erased unhappy memories of previous one on one situations while giving the home side a platform to go on and win for only a third time in 11 league and cup games this season.

However, the otherwise immaculate Richie Robinson misjudged a long 72nd minute punt from Town goalkeeper Dean Coleman and former Birmingham, Plymouth and Oxford United striker Howard Forinton netted with a neat lob that crept over the line off the crossbar.

Simon Forsdick flashed a left-footer past Dave Adey's right-hand angle of post and bar five minutes later before Forinton almost had the final say with an 88th minute drive into the side-netting.

Deflected

Ball had earlier seen a volley deflected over the crossbar on a night of few chances and, when the biggest cheer prior to the striker's opener, was for the late delayed opening of the refreshment hut!

Dave Busst opted to leave Matty Hall on the bench, recalling Jae Martin alongside Gavin O'Toole and Adam Cooper who replaced suspended duo Steve Duncan and Neil O'Sullivan.

Forsdick and Forinton came closest to breaking the deadlock before Adey's kick was helped on O'Toole for Ball to volley clinically past an exposed Coleman.

Martin then headed over Leon Blake's centre before Forsdick's fierce goalbound drive hit his own player to leave the Robins ahead at half-time.

Parity shouldn't have lasted long after the restart with Nick Smith fluffing two glorious chances with Adey producing a fine block from a ten-yard strike and then easily clutching a second effort.

A typical surging run from Jermaine Clarke saw the ball clawed away by hand from the lurking Ball who could only find the side-netting when a penalty should have been the outcome.

Coleman then saved from Blake before Ball's overhead kick after a long throw had been flicked on flew narrowly wide.

A minute later, Coleman's kick downfield undid the United rearguard and Forinton pounced to foil home hopes of three much needed points.