A LATE equaliser denied Evesham United all three points last weekend as The Robins’ tricky start to the 2021/22 campaign continued.

Bristol Manor Farm’s Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist’s 88th minute strike cancelled out Ben Hayes’ equally late opener as Evesham had to settle for a point.

It was a bright start from both sides, who looked prepared to go for all three points.

Manor Farm thought they had taken the lead when Ben Bament rounded Lewis Clayton, but defender Matt Williams did well to clear the ball off the line.

Evesham had a chance to take the lead right on half time, substitute Sean Brain got behind the visitor’s defence and his cross found the head of Ben Hayes whose header went just over the bar.

As the second half got underway it was obvious that both sides had gone up a gear. Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist almost gave the visitors the lead, denied by The Robins crossbar.

Evesham were denied by 2 goal line clearances in 3 minutes, the first saw Karnell Chambers twist his way into the box with his shot cleared off the line. The same player was involved in an excellent 1-2 move with Tom Chamberlain, whose strike was again cleared off the line.

The home side were now dominating play and in the 65th minute, Hayes found Brain in the box, who was denied by the post.

The hosts finally broke the deadlock in the final ten minutes when Hayes capitalised on a poor clearance to drive through midfield and drill a low shot into the bottom corner.

A third win of the season looked on the cards but Leigh-Gilchrist had other ideas and he stayed cool to slot home from inside the box and pinch a point for his side.