SUBSTITUTE Marcus Palmer came off the bench to earn Evesham United a deserved 1-1 draw with an 86th minute equaliser at Thatcham Town.

The Robins’ leading scorer swept hom Mitchell Botfield’s cross for his fifth goal of the season and make it two games without defeat for Shaun Cunnington’s side in Southern League Division One South and West.

Earlier, out of the blue, Thatcham had taken the lead on the hour when Evesham skipper Marc Richards made a clumsy challenge on Yashwa Romeo in the box and Charlie Hill scored from the penalty spot.

Evesham dominated possession throughout and Adam Millard came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first-half but his goalbound header from Botfield’s corner was cleared off the line by Ben McCready.

Carl Brown volleyed wide and Botfield’s first-time drive fizzed off target before Palmer made his mark with a neat finish past keeper Jamie Foster in the closing stages.

Evesham United: Bateman, Wilson, Mansell, Millard, Richards, Botfield, Brown (M Jackson 70), Barnfield, Smith, Dovey (Palmer 70), A Jackson. Subs not used: Tambling, Hollowoway, Gould.

Attendance: 86.