Swindon Supermarine 1, Evesham United 1 AFTER an abject first half display, Evesham turned the tables on Saturday's hosts and could have returned home with all three points.

Debutant Tom Etheridge had the visiting side's solitary goal attempt of the opening 45 minutes but his 38th minute volley flew a yard wide.

Nathan Vaughan produced a couple of vital first half stops, while Steven Hands came to his rescue after 22 minutes when he made a crucial challenge six yards out after the goalkeeper had pushed aside Kyle Lapham's deflected drive.

Hands, though, was at fault when Supermarine opened the scoring after 44 minutes when Joe Harris fired in a left-footer from 18 yards that wrong-footed the United custodian.

The Robins, missing injured skipper Steve Lutz and the suspended Simon Fitter, suffered another blow at half-time when Danny Scheppel failed to re-appear for the second period.

And, had Vaughan not produced the save of the game to turn over Chris Taylor's 49th minute deflected strike, United's task would have been made harder.

Danny Hodnett ballooned a chance over two minutes earlier but Vaughan's save appeared to spur on Paul West's men and an equaliser arrived in the 56th minute.

Hodnett's through ball picked out Gary Hay who came out of a challenge with the home goalkeeper with the ball that he rolled into the gaping goal.

The scorer, who was having breathing problems, was replaced up front by full back Michael Hayden in the 65th minute and the change appeared to bring Danny Lennon to life.

After Mark Hands had fired over following the striker's run and cross, Lennon then saw two efforts deflected for corners, while Michael Batchelor, making his first start, saw a flying header from Etheridge's 74th minute corner flash narrowly over.

Lennon's volley two minutes later was heading for the bottom corner until Matt Bulman plunged to his left to turn it for a corner.

A second goal would have been deserved reward for West's charges but a fourth draw of the season will have been a welcome return considering the injury problems that were increased by an ankle injury to Mark Hands that could rule him out for a few weeks.