Evesham United 2, Bedworth 2

ALL credit to Phil Mullen's injury hit squad that emerged unbeaten in October after Saturday's home draw.

The absence of skipper Steve Taylor, top scorer Sam Bowen on the bench and awful conditions could have seen the Robins slip back to old habits after two wins on the road.

However, despite a second successive home draw, it's six matches without defeat for Mullen's men after a dreadful sequence of five straight defeats last month.

Two more goals would have lifted Evesham to the top of the Western Division table but they had to settle for first goals of the season for Phil Preedy and Shaun Pratt as Bedworth twice battled back to level.

Taylor's influence was sadly lacking in midfield on an afternoon when gluepot conditions in the middle of the pitch prevented either side from stamping any real authority on the game.

Pratt, who played alongside Dean Roberts, was the provider after 19 minutes when his low cross fell invitingly for Preedy to smash in the opener.

Bedworth's equaliser had a touch of good fortune about it eight minutes later.

Stuart Holt, looking yards offside, was allowed to race forward and his cross was cleared only as far as Craig Whitmore who netted through a ruck of players.

United earned a pre-interval tonic and a deserved lead after 43 minutes.

Bedworth goalkeeper Jordan King failed to hold Steve McCartan's dead-ball strike and Pratt was on hand to notch his first goal for the club.

Like Pratt, Whitmore then turned provider when Adam Webster volleyed his 59th minute centre past Damien Beattie from close-range.

Bowen replaced John Deakin with 16 minutes left and his introduction raised the tempo and Pratt almost grabbed the goal that would have taken United level at the summit with Bilston when his goalbound header was deflected for a fruitless corner.

United: Beattie, Smith, Pendleton, West, Powell, Deakin, (Bowen), Wolsey, McCartan, Pratt, Roberts (Brown), Preedy. Sub, not used, Parmenter.

Western Division standings

P W D L F A Pts

Bilston 13 8 4 1 27 15 28

Mangotsfield 10 8 2 0 24 9 26

Evesham 13 8 2 3 25 14 26

Redditch 14 7 3 4 29 26 24

Hinckley 11 7 2 2 27 8 23

Rocester 13 6 2 5 20 26 20

Atherstone 14 5 4 5 22 19 19

Tiverton 10 5 3 2 21 14 18

Shepshed 13 5 3 5 22 20 18

Solihull 12 4 5 3 26 18 17

Cirencester 11 5 2 4 16 15 17

Rugby 13 5 2 6 21 22 17

Blakenall 13 4 5 4 18 22 17

Gloucester 11 3 6 2 23 19 15

Bedworth 13 4 3 6 13 16 15

RC Warwick 13 5 0 8 18 32 15

Gresley 12 4 2 6 16 18 14

Sutton C 14 3 5 6 16 22 14

Weston SM 14 2 5 7 19 23 11

Bromsgrove 13 3 2 8 12 27 11

Cinderford 13 2 3 8 13 26 9

Paget 13 2 1 10 14 31 7