NEW signing Dan MacDonald came off the bench to earn Evesham United a 1-1 draw at Didcot Town in Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West.

The substitute, who moved from Welsh League Division One side Monmouth Town in midweek, was quickest to react when the ball arrived from Clayton Green’s cross.

The former Aston Villa youngster confidently lashed the ball home for a well-deserved equaliser six minutes from time.

It was no more than Paul Collicutt’s men deserved as they played Didcot off the park but once again failed to convert a bucketload of chances into goals.

For the first time in four games, Collicutt was forced to change his starting line-up with Ashley Williams in for the injured Matt Sysum.

From kick-off Didcot had no answer to United’s free-flowing football and home keeper Leigh Bedwell was soon called upon to make a smart double save to keep out hard-working midfielder Nick Stanley.

United had penalty appeals turned down when Adam Mann went to ground under a heavy challenge in the Didcot box.

Then strikes by Louis McGrory and George Washbourne were well saved by Bedwell as United continued to bombard the Didcot goal.

It remained goalless until half-time but United came roaring out for the second-half and it did not take long for Lance Smith to go close when his header crashed against the crossbar with Bedwell beaten.

At the other end, United were given a fright when Mark Francis found the net but his header was disallowed for offside.

Mann and Sean Wood were both denied by the overworked Bedwell but Didcot took a shock lead out of the blue on 80 minutes when Francis capitalised on a mistake at the back to bundle the ball over the line.

However, within five minutes United were back on level terms thanks to MacDonald’s debut goal.

In stoppage time, Green was denied a dramatic winner when his header rattled the woodwork before the danger was cleared.

Evesham: Sawyer, McGrory, Wellon, Williams, Harding, Dovey, Smith (MacDonald 58), Wood, Mann, Stanley (Green 71), Washbourne (Jackson 74). Subs not used: Slack, Brown. Attendance: 135.