Evesham Utd 2, Salisbury City 2

SUBSTITUTE Jamie Bailey was the hero as the Robins pocketed their first top flight point last Saturday.

Bailey scored with a delig-htful header from a Matty Hall cross to earn the Robins a deserved share of the spoils 17 minutes from time after a battling second half showing.

It was United's second equaliser of an afternoon that saw Tim Clarke finally take his place between the sticks after his transport problems, Steve Duncan return from suspension but Jermaine Clarke miss out after being injured in midweek.

Dave Busst, who has allowed both Simon Fitter (Studley) and Inderpaul Khela (Willenhall) to leave Common Road, was also without the banned Guy Hadland, injured Gavin O'Toole and holidaying Steve Hands.

United's early season problems seemed set to continue as big spending City made all the early running but spurned chances with Paul Sales and Matt Tubbs the chief culprits.

It was defender Adam Cooper who came closest to breaking the deadlock at the other end but his header was acrobatically turned over by former Cirencester goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer.

Fortune again appeared to be against the hosts who fell behind on the stroke of the interval when Leon Blake could only block a corner on the line and Sales struck from close-range.

Skipper Lee Knight gave his side the perfect pick-me-up with Evesham's first Premier Division goal after 53 minutes when he controlled a centre from Hall before firing powerfully past Sawyer.

The goalkeeper then sup-erbly denied Richard Rob-inson as Evesham's confidence grew but their efforts again appeared to be proving fruitless when Tubbs lobbed the advancing Clarke after 71 minutes.

Bailey, who had replaced Jae Martin just three minutes earlier, repaid his manager's faith to direct Hall's pinpoint cross past Sawyer and earn the hosts a welcome and deserved point.

United face a long trip to Cheshunt on Saturday, while a similar lengthy journey won't please Bank Holiday Monday visitors Grantham Town for a match, sponsored by P J Nicholls, Station Road, Pershore, that kicks off at 3pm. The ball is being sponsored by High Street jewellers, Margetsons.

The club's youth team entertains Gloucester City in the Midland Floodlit Youth League next Tuesday night (7.30pm).