CIRENCESTER Town could only manage a 1-1 draw with 10-man Evesham United in their final pre-season friendly before the weekend's opening game of the non-league season.

Evesham had captain Charlie Wise sent off after just five minutes for a dangerous elbow in a coming together with a Cirencester player.

But despite their numerical advantage, it was The Robins who took the lead in the 24th minute thanks to Jordan Lymn's well-taken finish. But Reegan Messenger's equaliser just after the break brought the visitors level. 

Evesham battled bravely and managed to hold on for a draw in what was both sides' final game of pre-season before the start of the Southern League campaign on Saturday. 

The conditions were tricky throughout as the rain lashed down in Worcestershire and the mood became slightly more miserable within just five minutes for Evesham as Wise received his marching orders by the referee for an alleged elbow. 

Harry Burns had a 30-yard shot saved well by Jack Copland but any thoughts that it would be a one-sided affair were squashed in the 24th minute as Amer Awadh split the defence with a through-ball to Lymn, who rounded the Cirencester keeper before rolling the ball into an empty net. 

Ellis Dunton and Dan Grieve had efforts on goal but otherwise, Cirencester were finding Evesham a tough but to crack. 

But they managed to get more joy in the second-half and seven minutes after the restart, they got their equaliser as Messenger got a toe to a cross ahead of Copland to poke home. 

Both sides had chances to win it but could not make them count as the game ended in a 1-1 draw. 

Cirencester kick off their Southern League Division One Central campaign with a trip to Kings Langley this weekend, whilst Evesham start their Southern League Division One South season on the road at Exmouth Town.