DESPITE conceding a goal after just 29 seconds, Evesham United hit back to earn a 1-1 draw at Fleet Town in Southern League Division One South and West.

The Robins made the worst possible start but went on to dominate the rest of the game, although they lacked a cutting edge in the final third to see off a poor Fleet outfit.

Evesham, who paraded six debutants in their starting line-up, were caught cold straight from the kick-off when Lewis Binns failed to clear, allowing Rob Carr to race on and beat the advancing Kevin Sawyer.

This turned out to be Fleet’s only worthwhile effort on goal, leaving Sawyer a spectator for the rest of the match.

United set about looking for an equaliser and had penalty appeals turned down when Town defender Lee Bowen appeared to get a hand on Ashley Edenborough’s snap-shot in the box.

Sean Wood floated a free-kick just over and Elliot Kennedy’s header landed on the roof of the net as Paul Colicutt’s men continued to press kicking down the Calthorpe Park slope.

It came as no surprise, however, when Evesham finally equalised a minute before half-time.

The dangerous Edenborough was fouled on the right and, from Ben Evans’ free-kick, skipper Matt Sysum powered home an unstoppable header beyond Ryan Pryce.

The second-half continued with United producing a wave of attacks with the Fleet defence unable to cope with Evesham’s pace down the flanks.

Edenborough could easily have bagged a hat-trick with a series of near-misses and keeper Pryce made excellent point-blank blocks from the former Swindon Supermarine striker and substitute Aaron Drake.

Evesham: Sawyer, Jackson, Binns, Wilson, Sysum, Dovey, Evans (Slack 63), Wood (Harding 74), Edenborough, Kennedy, Watts (Drake 76). Subs not used: Wellon, Tambling.

Attendance: 103.