Mangotsfield United 1 Evesham United 5
Southern League Division One South & West
THE RUTHLESS Robins crushed fellow play-off hopefuls Mangotsfield on Saturday and climbed into second place in the process as Tiverton Town were beaten 3-2 by Swindon Supermarine.
On a day in which leaders Hereford were also beaten, albeit still sitting 15 points above United, there was plenty for Evesham manager Paul Collicutt to savour.
The only downside may be the possible departure of leading scorer Lance Smith – who netted twice on Saturday – who is interesting Premier Division outfit Redditch United.
Reds boss Darren Byfield is holding talks with the 26-goal hot-shot, but Collicutt remains hopeful that Smith may decide to stay at the Jubilee Stadium having recently rejected a move to Hednesford Town.
Former Badsey Rangers striker Smith and Adam Mann have become a formidable partnership up front for the Robins and the most feared strikeforce in the division, but a switch to the newly-named Trico Stadium would be a setback to United’s hopes of finishing in the play-off places.
Mangotsfield were outclassed by a slick and energetic United outfit who, after a blip over Christmas, have now won three games in a row to move into second place above Tiverton on goal difference.
Collicutt said: “The display was the closest we’ve come to a complete 90-minute performance this season. We were tremendous from start to finish and to score five goals away from home against a side in the play-offs was very pleasing.
“We created chance after chance and every one of my players were on top of their game.
“Once again our supporters travelled in numbers and I was pleased we gave them another performance to shout about.”
United started the game with the same 11 that triumphed 3-1 over Winchester City in midweek and should have taken the lead almost immediately but, after racing clear, Smith had his shot pushed aside by Steve Phillips.
Veteran goalkeeper Phillips, who spent time on loan at Evesham from Bristol City at the start of his career, then safely gathered Smith’s header before United took a 19th minute lead.
Smith provided the cross inside the box to Lorcan Sheehan whose first-time shot gave Phillips no chance.
Mangotsfield went straight up the other end from the kick-off and a Ryan Batten header was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by the nimble Kevin Sawyer.
Play quickly resumed in the Mangotsfield half and Garyn Preen’s cross from the right came back off the woodwork before being cleared by Connor McCormack.
However, with 26 minutes on the clock, Evesham increased the lead to 2-0 courtesy of Tom Warren’s own goal. Under pressure from Mann, Warren headed Lewis Binns’ left-wing cross into his own net.
Three minutes later Mangotsfield got themselves back in the game when Linden Dovey’s headed back-pass fell short of Sawyer and Liam Monelle capitalised on the mistake to lob over the advancing stopper.
However, Evesham restored their two-goal advantage leading up to half time when Sheehan’s cross picked out Smith who cleverly steered the ball home at the near post to make it 3-1.
The tempo of the game dropped a little in the second half but United continued to dominate, constantly ripping the home defence apart with a combination of movement and pace as Smith burst through again only for Phillips to make a good save low to his left.
Substitute Ryan Bath wasted a couple of half chances for Mangotsfield before two more goals were added to seal an emphatic win for the Red & Whites.
Phillips could only push Sheehan’s inswinging corner on to his crossbar and the ball fell kindly to the unmarked Smith who nudged home from close range.
In stoppage time Smith was involved in Evesham’s fifth goal when his goalbound shot was blocked by home skipper Scott Brice and Batten and the ball squirted out nicely to substitute Paul Fahy who easily found the net.
Evesham host mid-table North Leigh on Saturday.