Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West

Yate Town 1 Evesham United 1

YATE TOWN sub Jake Slocombe earned his side a draw in their Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West clash with high-flying Evesham United on Saturday.

But it means the long wait for a seventh league win of the season continues as manager Paul Britton prepares his side for the trip south to play tenth placed Bideford on Saturday.

Evesham arrived at Lodge Road unbeaten in five matches and seeking a third league double of the season.

Despite dominating possession in the first half, the visitors to the Jelf Stadium struggled to get an effort on target with the Yate defenders on a number of occasions throwing their bodies on the line to get in crucial blocks as the ball flew goalwards.

Yate keeper Harvey Rivers somehow held onto Elliot Kennedy`s near post drive after the winger had burst into the Yate box.

At the other end, Evesham keeper Kevin Sawyer had been called into action to make a flying save and deny Luke Bryan.

And Nick Stanley got in a last-ditch tackle on Hayden Evans with Yate asking one or two questions on the breakaway.

It was a match which was there for Yate to win but Evesham United upped the tempo after half-time and looked far more threatening going forward.

Yate rode their luck when Evesham’s top scorer Lance Smith headed against a post and Adam Mann was unable to get the final touch a yard out in front of an open goal.

The visitor’s pressure was finally rewarded when the Bluebells’ Mike Baker had the misfortune to turn the ball into his own net beyond home keeper Harvey Rivers.

Yate bounced back, though, when, four minutes later, sloppy defending allowed Kyle Thomas to find debutant Slocombe who buried the equaliser into the Evesham net.

The result means that Yate Town stay 18th place in the league table.

They are 13 points clear of the relegation zone, which is currently occupied by Wantage Town and Bridgwater Town, and unlikely to be caught in any basement battle but Britton’s young side will be hoping to get a victory soon although big matches against Shortwood United, Taunton Town and North Leigh loom this month.