EVESHAM United opened their 2023/24 Southern League Division One South campaign with a 1-1 draw at Exmouth Town. 

Ethan Moran came off the bench to score within two minutes of the restart to bring The Robins level following Ace High's 14-minute opener for the hosts.

High stroked home from Ben Steer's cross but Moran's right-footed strike from 25 yards found the bottom corner of Andrew Sowden-Bird's goal to drag the visitors back into it. 

Jack Copland made a number of good saves to keep the game all-square and ensure Evesham made the trip back to Worcestershire with a point. 

Exmouth's Steer had already showed his pace early on to get in behind the Evesham defence and he did the same in the 14th minute before dragging the ball back for High to strike a low shot first-time past Copland to make it 1-0. 

Evesham looked to respond as Levi Steele found space to turn and shoot on goal, but Sowden-Bird made a vital save.

There was not much to separate the teams in the first half, as both sides lacked the final ball to break down each other’s defences and it remained 1-0 going into the break. 

Mike Ford's started the second half by making a double change, which instantly paid off as Moran found himself in space 25 yards away from goal and his low drive beat Sowden-Bird and found the bottom left corner.

Ethan Slater was determined to get his second goal in as many games as Exmouth looked to respond. He had a shot blocked and scrambled away for a corner, and then from that corner, he had a header drift past the post. 

Evesham were having chances themselves and Steele had a great opportunity, but his close-range shot from inside the box was well saved. 

The final effort of the game was the best one and Exmouth should have really won it but Copland came to the rescue for Evesham as he denied Slater when one-on-one.