Gloucester City 1, Evesham Utd 1

DOWN to the bare bones, Evesham's 12 players produced a dogged display of character and commitment last Saturday to prise out what could be a precious point in the battle against the drop, writes Mervyn Collins.

Injuries to Grant Pinkney and Shane Benjamin meant there was plenty of room in the dugout from where Joel Skyers appeared at half-time to replace the hobbling Rob Taylor.

The latter had created United's two best chances before an earlier challenge and then kicking the corner flag instead of the ball seconds prior to the interval forced his withdrawal just as his mercurial talents appeared to be the best bet to open up the City rearguard.

Taylor burst into life in the second half of the first half when his tremendous 30-yard strike left Matt Bath rooted to the spot only for the ball to strike the underside of the bar and be hacked to safety.

On the half-hour Taylor's measured cross was headed over by Richie Rob-inson who, three minutes before the break, contrived to blast the ball straight at Bath's body from six yards following Taylor's astute pass.

United started brightly but Evesham had several escapes with Michael Whittington heading over an open goal and then finding the net after 15 minutes only to have his celebrations curtailed by an assistant referee flagging for offside.

Dave Adey saved from Jody Bevan before the Robins upped the tempo and Taylor's touches seemed destined to give the visitors the half-time advantage.

That wasn't to be and, as he limped off, so it appeared went hopes of a welcome victory on the road.

If it was Taylor's skills that illuminated the opening 45 minutes, it was Adam Blake's tenacity that caught the eye in the second half and his fabulous block to prevent Bevan netting from close-range after 51 minutes was awesome.

There were home calls for handball on the line by Stephen Luckett, who like Steven Hands and Anthony Watson was superb at the back, from the follow-up but another brave block by Skyers and a shot from Chris Thompson that struck the bar meant Adey's goal was unbreached as the hour-mark approached.

United must have thought it was to be their day and John Williams and Leon Blake finally showed their forward paces and the former's mishit shot on the hour was scuffed into the net by the predator that is Richard Ball.

The top scorer's powerful downward header two minutes later after a cross from Williams brought a diving stop from Bath who then turned over Leon Blake's thunderous strike following Ball's clever pass.

However, the visiting side's lead last just eight minutes as substitute Luke Corbett's deflected shot deceived Adey and it was time to batten down the hatches.

Chances were scarce at both ends in a scrappy final 20 minutes that saw Corbett shown yellow for not retreating at a free-kick and then only given a talking to after a late challenge on Adey.

By that time Gloucester were down to ten men after Neil Mustoe was carried off after Adam Blake's determination to win the ball did just that only for his momentum to send the central defender crashing to the turf.

Incredibly, Blake was cautioned but that one black mark on an otherwise satisfactory outcome, in the circumstances, holds out hope that more of the same spirit will lift the Robins out of danger.