EVESHAM United’s dreams of reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup for only the second time in their history were ended in agonising fashion at the Jubilee Stadium on Saturday as Conference South promotion hopefuls Bromley earned a 2-1 victory.
However, it took a magnificent performance from visiting keeper Seb Brown to thwart the Robins’ bid to match their record-breaking FA Cup of 2008/09 as the former AFC Wimbledon and England C international produced some breathtaking saves to keep the hosts at bay.
Roared on by a crowd of 811, Paul Collicutt’s side were the dominant force in the game for long periods but ultimately two goals from Danny Waldren proved enough to book Bromley’s place in the first round, in which they will host Conference Premier outfit Dartford.
Collicutt made one change to the starting line-up that beat Chalfont St Peter in the previous round as Carl Brown came in for Nathan Jackson in midfield but things did not go to plan from the outset as Bromley silenced the home crowd when Waldren drilled in from close range to give the visitors a fifth minute lead.
United put the disappointment of conceding an early goal behind them to go on and create some decent chances themselves and Seb Brown was called into action when he brilliantly saved from Lance Smith and moments later did well to get a block on Ashley Edenborough’s goalbound drive.
Elliot Kennedy then got round the back of the Bromley defence and had his cross-shot well held by the diving Brown at the foot of his post.
Evesham’s hard work was finally rewarded on 37 minutes when the lively Edenborough steered in George Washbourne’s corner kick at the near post to make it 1-1.
Linden Dovey prevented Bromley from regaining the lead just before half time when he raced back to hook Moses Ademola’s shot off the line when the former Brentford striker looked certain to score.
Seb Brown made an astonishing save to deny United’s Carl Brown inside the opening minute of the second half before Waldren struck again on 49 minutes when he glanced in Louis Dennis’ corner for what proved to be the game’s winning goal.
Evesham pressed for a deserved equaliser but found Seb Brown in top form as Washbourne, Edenborough and substitute Jack Watts were all denied by the Bromley stopper.
Then, in the closing stages, United skipper Matt Sysum went close to forcing a replay when his header looped just over with the impressive Seb Brown beaten.
Jaded Evesham beaten on the road
IT WAS a case of after the Lord Mayor’s Show for a tired looking Evesham who surrendered their unbeaten away record in Southern League Division One South & West as they slid to a 3-0 defeat at Mangotsfield United on Tuesday.
Over the years Cossham Street has never been a happy hunting ground for Evesham and so it proved again as, apart from an opening ten-minute burst, Evesham were second best for the rest of the game and looked leg weary after their gruelling FA Cup tie.
It was the same starting line-up for the Robins, which included former Mangotsfield players, skipper Sysum and goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer.
Evesham’s best spell was at the start when Brown fired a couple of efforts wide and home keeper Joe Perry was at full stretch to deny the lively Brown another goalscoring opportunity.
From then on the hosts dominated and Lewis Hogg on his Mangotsfield debut got the ball rolling for the home side on 13 minutes when the experienced midfielder slotted the hosts ahead following Steve Davies’ right wing cross.
After a period of pressure, Gary Colborne gave Sawyer little chance with a bullet header on 34 minutes to double the advantage and on the hour Lewis Powell let fly from outside the box to make it 3-0 and effectively end the game as a contest.
Evesham substitute Harry Williams did force a save out of Perry at the other end but a comeback was never on the cards and Collicutt’s men will look to bounce back when they host Southern League Premier Division strugglers Banbury United in the FA Trophy first qualifying round on Saturday.
Subject to any FA Trophy replay, the Robins then face a league trip to title-chasing Merthyr Town on Tuesday.
