EVESHAM United substitute Carl Brown had a late effort blocked on the line in Saturday’s hard-fought 0-0 draw with county rivals Redditch United in the FA Cup first qualifying round.

Redditch almost broke the deadlock when the dangerous Jermaine Hylton rattled a post in the early stages at the Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium.

The visitors bossed the opening half and signalled their intentions straight from the kick-off.

Ashley Sammons was then a whisker away from firing the Reds ahead from a neat move.

Evesham went close through skipper Matt Sysum’s header.

Jamie Molyneux was another attacking threat for Redditch and, with half-time approaching, he pulled a dangerous shot across the face of goal.

The second-half was more even as Evesham matched their Southern League Premier Division opponents.

A combination of Sysum and Jared Wilson denied Hylton with a last-ditch block, while keeper Bradley Catlow pushed out Lance Smith’s firm drive at the other end.

The loose ball fell for Evesham’s George Washbourne but he fired into the side-netting.

Home keeper Kevin Sawyer made late flying saves from George Carline and Sammons.

The replay is tonight at the Valley Stadium (7.45pm).

Evesham: Sawyer, Wilson, Binns, Wood, Sysum, Dovey, Kennedy (Watts 75), Stanley, Edenborough, Smith, Washbourne (Brown 72). Subs not used: Tambling, Wellon, Harding, Drake, Slack.

Attendance: 309.