Shortwood United 2 Evesham United 0
Southern League Division One South & West
EVESHAM United suffered defeat at Shortwood United on Monday – the second year running they had done so at Meadowbank.
Goals from Andy Lewis and substitute Will Morford sealed a fully deserved win for the home side as the Robins were unable to build on Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Bideford.
Right from the first attack, Shortwood made Evesham look shaky at the back, with Nick Humphreys skipping away from Linden Dovey and crossing to Jake Lee who directed his free header wide of Kevin Sawyer’s goal.
Only a well-time challenged from Dovey denied Steve Davies who burst through in the 11th minute.
The closest Evesham came to beating Rhys Lovett was in the 25th minute when Dovey headed a corner from Lewis Binns against the bar.
Less than a minute later, Shortwood took the lead when Evesham failed to deal with a ball into the box and defender Lewis thumped a shot into the top-right corner.
Humphreys set up Lee for a shot, but Binns blocked well and Lee’s chip from the edge of the box cleared the bar.
Adam Mann had the ball in the net for Evesham but the offside flag was up against Paul Fahy and home defender Nick Peare had to make a perfectly judged challenge on Mann in the box after Matt Sysum’s header nearly released the frontman on goal.
Fahy went down in the box after a challenge from Peare, but Evesham’s penalty appeals were waved away, and Mann then missed a good chance before half time when he headed Binns’ cross wide with no defenders to be seen.
Mann went down in the box two minutes into the second half after clashing with Lewis but again nothing was given and Shortwood then went close to a second goal when Lee robbed Will Wellon but saw his effort drift wide of the left post.
Shortwood sent on Morford in place of Lee and it took the striker four minutes to find the net as he evaded Evesham’s offside trap and had all the time in the world to place a shot past Sawyer.
Leon Jeanne, formerly with QPR and Cardiff City, went on from the bench for the Robins and showed some touches of class, but he was unable to prise open a solid home defence.
Lovett dived to catch a shot from Fahy in the 78th minute, but there was no way through for Evesham as Shortwood celebrated victory.
The 13th placed Robins turn their attentions to the FA Cup on Saturday when they host Northern League Premier Division outfit Barwell. Should a replay be required, it will take place on Tuesday in Leicestershire.
Paul Collicutt’s side return to league action on Saturday, September 10 with a home game against AFC Totton.