Evesham Utd 1, King's Lynn 1

IT WAS another frustrating afternoon for improving Evesham as an equaliser five minutes from time prevented a second successive Saturday success, writes Mervyn Collins.

Second best for most of the opening 45 minutes, the Robins came out all guns blazing after the break. And, after Richard Ball had netted his tenth league goal of the campaign after 56 minutes, the hosts should really have sewn up a maximum.

However, stand-in goalkeeper Chris Taylor was finally beaten when he blocked an initial effort only for Daniel Hammond to fire in the loose ball from six yards.

Taylor, who played in the first-ever league meeting between the two sides 13 years ago, certainly had a quieter afternoon than his last Evesham appearance when conceding five goals at Mangotsfield three seasons ago.

But it was his goal that came closest to being breached in the first half when an 18th minute shot from Matthew O'Halloran struck an upright.

It was the United goal that was being regularly peppered but King's Lynn keeper John Higgs heaved a huge sigh of relief six minutes before half-time when John Williams charged down his clearance only for the ball to ricochet to safety.

Evesham's star man Rob Taylor sent over a teasing cross two minutes later that only needed a touch in front of goal while namesake Chris's goal had another couple of close shaves before the interval ended with Ball receiving another unnecessary caution that will keep him out of the Banbury match on December 10.

The home side, fielding only four of the side that started in Norfolk when the sides last met in early October, started the second half in determined fashion and, after Higgs saved from Ball, the striker nodded the hosts into the lead from Gavin O'Toole's inch-perfect centre.

Ball should have really added to his tally during a time in which the attacking side perhaps faced too many options - and almost always took the wrong one - as they headed towards goal and Evesham paid for that wastefulness when Hammond netted the leveller.

Almost instantly Ball was given another chance to find the net but again finished disappointingly on yet another day when more points should have been pocketed.