EVESHAM United and Halesowen Town require a Tuesday night replay after a 1-1 draw in the FA Trophy preliminary round.

Montel Gibson laid on the opener for Ashley Sammons by rounding Robins keeper Lochie Robertson 15 minutes in at the Jubilee Stadium on Saturday.

But Evesham had plenty of openings and secured a replay through recent signing Harry Franklin’s header 12 minutes from time.

Watched by a crowd of 382, an even start saw Matt Dodd and Aaron Roberts work an overlap on the right but the cross was too strong and evaded everyone.

A Halesowen effort from 25 yards was sliced high and wide but the visitors went ahead with Sammons’ smart finish from inside the box after a pull-back.

The Robins went close five minutes later when Brian Smikle, Adam Page and Paul Sullivan combined for Jordon Sangha to fire just over from 20 yards.

Dodd’s dangerous cross again lacked a finish before Danny Bragoli blocked a well-struck shot on the goal line at the other end.

Robertson pulled off a fine save on 35 minutes to deny Sammons a second goal and keep Evesham in the tie.

Dodd continued to cause problems but the hosts went in at half-time behind.

Robertson again made a strong stop five minutes after the interval from Gibson.

A double substitution for the Robins saw Kai Tonge and Franklin introduced.

Lee Chilton put a half-chance over the bar as Tonge proved a constant threat with his pace.

Smikle just missed an inviting Bragoli cross and then soon after he did reach a centre but could not trouble the keeper.

Mark Magee came on as Evesham continued to search for the equaliser.

And it arrived when Franklin, signed from Redditch United earlier this month, rose highest in the box to nod home.

The same player almost bagged a winner with a long-range effort that went just over.

But Halesowen also went close to a crucial second goal, heading over from close range close to full-time.

The visitors played the last 18 minutes with 10 men due to an injury to former Worcester City midfielder George Forsyth.

The teams try again on Tuesday at Halesowen (7.45pm).

Evesham: Robertson, Roberts (Magee), Smikle, Paddock, Maslen-Jones, Sangha, Dodd, Bragoli, Sullivan (Tonge), Chilton, Page (Franklin). Subs not used: O’Neill, Howard.