MANAGER Paul Collicutt faces decision time as he plans the final countdown to the new season at Evesham United.
The Robins continue their build-up with a trip to Alvechurch tonight (Friday), and have added an extra friendly to their list with a home clash against Didcot Town next Wednesday before the final warm-up against Bromsgrove Sporting next Saturday.
But Collicutt is looking to settle his squad and that means deciding where to cut the numbers. Former Derby County defender Cain Thomas, who has also featured for Cheltenham Town in pre-season, played the second half in Tuesday night’s 7-2 win at Bishops Cleeve and Collicutt was expected to make a decision in the next few days.
The Robins’ newcomers have already impressed in the countdown to the new Evo-Stik Southern Division One South campaign which begins away to Melksham on August 18.
Sean Brain, signed from Bromsgrove Sporting, bagged a first-half as Evesham hammered Bishops Cleeve, with fellow newcomer Lewis Ellington also on target.
One-time Bristol Rovers players Ellington has signed on dual registration forms, along with Chippenham Town.
Tyrone Tucker-Dixon, who has also signed on dual forms with Gloucester City, also found the net as the Robins led 5-0 and half-time sub James Campbell added a sixth with a smart left-footed finish.
Liam Wright got Cleeve on the scoresheet with a superb long-range strike before Ewen Dunbar set up Steve Davies, another summer recruit, for add Evesham’s seventh and Ash Davies hit Cleeve’s second to end an entertaining evening.
The win at Cleeve followed a 2-0 home defeat last Saturday to National League South side Bath City.
Collicutt’s men more than matched their higher ranked rivals and it was 0-0 at half-time at the Jubilee. But Dan Ball struck on 56 minutes to give the visitors the lead after goalkeeper Harvey Rivers had parried a Ross Stearn free-kick and former Hereford hot-shot John Mills doubled the lead with an unstoppable effort with nine minutes left.
n The Under-18s have arranged a friendly at home to Bishops Cleeve on Monday (August 6).
The youngsters begin their Midland Floodlit Youth League Premier Division South season on August 15 with a trip to Halesowen Town.