Evesham Utd 0, Cirencester Tn 0

DEFENSIVE pride was salvaged at Common Road last Saturday as United took a deserved point from the surprise Western Division title chasers.

After the shambles of the opening 20 minutes at Solihull seven days earlier, the same quartet was entrusted with the task of keeping wraps on a Cirencester front line that has catapulted the Gloucestershire outfit into championship contention.

And they did so with not too much difficulty although it needed a couple of late saves from a fit again Tim Clarke to keep the watching Redditch contingent happy!

Dave Busst's men, with Craig Nicholls in for the injured Simon Marsh, had the better of the first half with the wind at their backs.

Paul Thompson saved well from Danny Will-iams, while Craig Pountney finishing touch was again lacking when Grant Pinkney gave the scorer a couple of sights of goal.

Ben Fitch missed Town's best chance when set up by Gareth Hopkins but little was seen of the home attack after the break with Cirencester making full use of the elements.

However, they were unable to breach a United back line that was forced into a 55th minute reshuffle when Adam Guest replaced skipper Lee Knight.

Shaun Wimble and Jody Bevan went close to unhinging the Evesham rearguard before Clarke's late saves prevented Hopkins and Bevan giving the scoreline an unfair appear-ance.

Williams skipped past two men before firing United's best chance wide on an afternoon when the home manager will have learnt a little more about his players as he plans for next season.