HARRY Franklin's 83rd-minute equaliser earned Evesham United a Southern League Division One South point from a long midweek trip to Bideford.

The Robins remain fifth in the table ahead of Saturday's visit to fifth-from-bottom Moneyfields (3pm).

Former Hereford FC and Redditch United player Franklin swooped seven minutes from time with a back-post header from a corner.

Evesham had taken the lead through Paul Sullivan's penalty on eight minutes.

Adam Page added a second on 12 minutes but was denied by the offside flag.

New Robins keeper Jono Brown, signed from Bromsgrove Sporting, saved twice from Theo Simpson and also denied Lewis Waldy.

But the hosts deservedly levelled on 29 minutes when a corner found its way to Ryan Turner on the edge of the box and he smashed the ball low beneath Brown.

Fourteenth-placed Bideford went ahead one minute before half-time when Turner raced beyond the defence to find the corner of the net.

In a second period of few clear-cut chances ex-Kidderminster Harriers keeper Brown got lucky as his clearance was charged down by Turner but went over.

Ben Palmer headed over for the hosts and then Franklin intervened to secure a point for the Robins from a cold night in north Devon.

Evesham defender Aaron Roberts said on Twitter: "Eight-hour round trip, not at our best but in the minus temperatures on a difficult pitch came away with a point."

As well as signing Brown, Evesham boss Carl Abbott has recruited midfielder Tom Chamberlain and forward Aaron Basford on loan from League Two side Cheltenham Town where they are second-year scholars.

The Robins host Premier Division Central strugglers Redditch on Monday in the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup quarter-finals (7.45pm).

Evesham: Brown, Roberts, Smikle, Staten, Maslen-Jones, Cresswell, Tonge, Bragoli, Sullivan, Franklin, Page. Subs: Heywood, O'Neill, Basford, Chamberlain.

Attendance: 121.