A DISPUTED penalty 15 minutes from time denied Evesham United victory at Bridgwater Town in Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West.

Dave Pearse levelled for the hosts when Tom Legg's driven cross inadvertently struck Richard Mansell on the elbow after Jamal Clarke fired United ahead in first-half injury-time.

Clarke, playing as a makeshift striker, latched onto Leigh Downing's pass before beating keeper Luke Purnell.

He earlier prodded Leon Kandekore's cross just wide and then sent a piledriver over the bar early in the second-half.

After Pearse's equaliser, United skipper Matt Sysum headed Simon Fitter's free-kick straight at Purnell.

Bridgwater, playing their 13th game in 25 days, went closest to a late winner when Steve Fitzpatrick struck a post in injury-time.

Evesham: McNamara, Wilson, Mansell, Sysum, Jackson, J Blake, Downing, Fitter, Kandekore, Clarke, Gould. Subs not used: Turner, Jones, Hands, A Blake, Thomasson.

Attendance: 91.