PAUL West is hoping Evesham United's lionheart performance at Grantham Town will breathe fresh life into the club's league campaign.

Backs-to-the-wall United drew 1-1 against the Gingerbreads on Tuesday night in the Southern Premier Division, despite playing with nine men for more than an hour.

Midfielder Steve Duncan and defender Lee Knight were sent off for violent conduct, but the re-shuffled Robins surprisingly snatched the lead with a breakaway Rob Taylor goal and almost held on for victory until Chris Bacon's late strike rescued Grantham.

Assistant boss West was angered by the double dismissal but delighted with Evesham's gallant efforts which he hopes can be repeated at Mangotsfield Town tomorrow (3pm).

"It was a fantastic performance from the lads," said West. "I was proud by it and although they scored the equaliser late on, we were jubilant and we had a few beers on the way home.

"The team spirit was excellent and we only hope that we can take that on for the rest of the season, but we have said that before once or twice."

Duncan and Knight now serve three-match bans as West admits the club will not appeal against the red cards but Gavin O'Toole is back from a ban.

He said: "It's a waste of time appealing. We have got to accept we are without the pair of them for a few games.

"Steve's sending off was similar to the one he got against Tiverton in the FA Cup. He went for a challenge with one of their players and as he got up, Steve caught the kid with a flick of his boot.

"The lad made a right meal of it and I thought the referee was harsh, but it was petulance. In the same incident, their centre-forward walked into Lee and then went down clutching his face.

"He feigned injury because had Lee headbutted him, then there would have been blood or a scratch."