Woodford United 1, Evesham United 1

FORCED to play the whole of the second half with only ten men, the Robins produced a fabulous display that deserved far more better than a draw.

Joe Clarke was sent off a minute before the break after shoving Carl Standen to the floor after the grounded Woodford player had clung on to Clarke's legs after a tangle.

Amazingly, Evesham totally dominated the second period but all they had to show for their splendid efforts was Steve Lutz's close-range header ten minutes after a superb run and cross from Daniel Lennon.

Lennon was in mesmerising mood and his run and cross inside 60 seconds saw the recalled James Knott's goalbound strike diverted for a corner by a home defender.

Danny Scheppel then shot wide after Lutz and Tom Warmer had combined, while Lennon shot just over four minutes after the Evesham defence had allowed Neil King to fire Woodford into a sixth minute lead.

Lutz should have done better with a free header from Warmer's 19th minute flag-kick, while Matt Finlay saved another shot from Scheppel.

The latter's free-kick 11 minutes before the break was flicked goalwards by Steven Hands, playing in a midfield role, bu the ball struck a post.

Clarke's excellent cross was then sent looping goalwards by Lennon's head but a defender popped up underneath the bar to clear.

Nathan Vaughan had his hands stung by Anthony Powell's 40th minute drive but Clarke's dismissal left Paul West's men to attempt to hit back with ten men for the second time in four games.

Lennon tormented the home rearguard all afternoon and Lutz couldn't miss and the points were back in the melting pot.

Gary Hay replaced Knott after 62 minutes and immediately combined with Lennon to set up Lutz whose goalbound shot appeared to strike a Woodford arm.

The referee was having none of it and Lutz was again in the thick of things but his volley flew narrowly wide.

Finlay saved Hay's thumping strike before top scorer Mark Owen replaced Lennon after 73 minutes and he almost had an instant impact.

Hay's delightful flick sent the substitute clear on goal but another questionable decision ruled him offside.

Seconds later and Owen and Hay bore down on goal and the former looked to be impeded as he went to pull the trigger. Again, the referee ruled otherwise.

Scheppel shot across the face of the home goal from a decent position, while Owen's follow-up ended up in the side-netting.

Finlay then smothered Lutz's header from Scheppel's 81st minute free-kick on the goalline before the latter volleyed wide after more good play from Hay.

Goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan was a virtual spectator but the goalkeeper was happy to see King shoot wide four minutes from time and then Paul Lamb shoot over seconds later.

Hay perhaps should have crowned a fantastic second half showing two minutes from time but the new man blazed over from 12 yards after the hosts had been caught on the break.

Manager Paul West confirmed befroe the game that Wesley Joyce had been released and that Knott had turned down an approach from Bronsgrove and would be staying with the Robins.

The Evesham chief also revealed that Mark Hands was expected to be back in action next month and that Steve Duncan was getting in some match action with Feckenham.

Another long-term absentee, Paul Bonar, made his comeback in Northamptonshire but was kept on the bench on an afternoon when the old question of whether it was a point won or two lost was on every United supporters' lips.

6:32pm Saturday 5th January 2008

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