JACOB Davidge came back to haunt former club Evesham United with the penalty that secured a 2-2 draw for Highworth Town.

The Robins recovered from a sluggish first-half display, largely dictated by sticky conditions, to produce a resurgent second half show despite torrential rain continuing at the Jubilee Stadium.

Lee Chilton and substitute Kai Tonge were on target to cancel out Ryan Morgan's strike but a handball given against Brad Maslen-Jones three minutes after United took the lead allowed Davidge to restore parity with 15 minutes to go.

Dan Bragoli had hit the bar at 1-1 with Aaron Roberts smacking the post in added time but in truth, Highworth created enough from less of the play to warrant a share of the spoils.

Downpours made for a slow start at both ends with Town spurning the first chance of note on 24 minutes, Edji Mbunga wildly slicing his far-post effort from a Davidge cross.

A poorly-defended corner gifted the visitors the lead in the 31st minute, defender Morgan given two bites of the cherry six yards out to scuff in the opener.

Evesham’s best sight of goal in the opening 45 came when Jordon Sangha handsomely cleared the crossbar from Matt Dodd’s cutback.

It could have got worse for the Robins when Brian Smikle was caught in possession at left-back with Mbunga hitting the near post from point-blank range.

But United began the second half far brighter and levelled within two minutes of the restart.

With Highworth defenders slipping and sliding all over the place, Chilton kept his balance and nerve to unerringly cushion in a bobbling ball from six yards.

Evesham overran their opponents in the aftermath with Chilton just about stopped from shooting by Matthew Cheetham before Bragoli latched on to the loose ball and rattled the crossbar from 10 yards.

The hosts kept probing but also suffered from wobbles of their own making at the other end.

Chilton flashed narrowly beyond the far post on the run just past the hour, while Ryan Paddock was forced into a hurried clearance as Davidge looked to tuck in the rebound from Mbunga’s low shot.

Tonge raised spirits with a delightful solo goal, nipping in to pinch possession from Billy Aldwich before jetting away and finishing low off the far post with the outside of his boot to hand Evesham the lead four minutes after his introduction.

However, a free-kick from the right bounced around the box and struck Maslen-Jones on the arm with referee Andy Genders pointing straight to the spot. Davidge kept his cool with a confident finish to Lochie Robertson’s right to burst United’s bubble.

Tonge had a great chance to bag another but headed into the arms of Connor Johns having risen highest to meet Adam Page’s corner with 12 minutes to go.

Mbunga drilled across goal with Davidge fractionally away from converting at the far post before one last flurry from the home side.

Bragoli was agonisingly close to connecting with Page’s lifted cross as the clock struck 90 and then Roberts whacked the woodwork with a swing at a loose ball from eight yards out at the death.

Robins: Robertson 7, Roberts 6.5, Smikle 5.5, Paddock 8*, Maslen-Jones 7, Sangha 6 (Cresswell, 68, 6), Dodd 6 (Tonge, 68,7), Bragoli 6, Sullivan 6, Chilton 8, Page 7.

Unused subs: Franklin, O’Neill.

Highworth: Johns 6, Davidson 6, Aldwich 5.5, Morgan 7.5, Morrison 6, Taylor 6.5, Morris 6 (Chevolleau, 82), Cheetham 5, Davidge 7, Mbunga 6, Grabe 5.5 (Harrison, 78, 6).

Unused sub: Comer.

Referee: Andy Genders, 6.

Attendance: 147.