Evesham United 1 Bridgwater Town 0
Southern League Division One South & West
EVESHAM boss Paul Collicutt challenged his side to build on Saturday’s victory over lowly Bridgwater as they continue their push for the play-offs with two key fixtures this week.
The scoreline may not have been convincing but the outcome was never really in doubt as the Robins ended a two-match losing sequence at the Jubilee and now Collicutt wants more of the same, starting with Wednesday’s visit of Winchester City.
The visit of relegation-haunted and managerless Bridgwater turned into a training session in the second half as the Somerset side parked ten men behind the ball and offered nothing in attack, but Collicutt was nevertheless relieved to see his third placed side collect maximum points.
“Bridgwater came here with a game plan and, credit to them, they made life difficult for us,” said Collicutt.
“We dominated the entire game and, although I wasn’t entirely happy with the performance, the most important thing is we got all three points.
“I thought Adam Mann took his goal extremely well and new boy Archie Haskayne was a big plus for me. He replaced Carl Brown early in the game and put in a very confident and polished display.
“It’s another big week for us with tough matches against Winchester and Mangotsfield United (Saturday, away) coming up and we’ll be trying our hardest to get maximum points from both games.”
United keeper Kevin Sawyer was a spectator in the home goal without a shot to save all afternoon as the Robins secured their second league double of the season.
United set their stall out from the first whistle when, in the opening few seconds, Lance Smith planted a shot into the side-netting.
Young Bridgwater keeper Liam Kingston then kept out United’s top scorer with his legs and star defender Liam Harding powered a header just over from Lorcan Sheehan’s flag-kick.
A combination of shots flew towards the Town goal before 17-year-old Kingston produced a wonder save to push out Smith’s close range header and Nick Stanley prodded the rebound agonisingly wide.
However, on 33 minutes, United’s frustrations were finally ended courtesy of Mann’s delightful finish when he beat the advancing Kingston with an exquisite lob from around 25 yards.
Before half time, Smith went close to doubling United’s lead, but shot wide of a post with only Kingston to beat.
The second half followed suit with United asking all the questions and Bridgwater defending in depth.
Evesham substitute Mark Magee got himself into a good position but fluffed his shot into the side-netting and then got clean through, only to have his drive well saved by the impressive Kingston.
United continued to press to the end with replacement Lewis Binns breezing down the left and sending over a series of teasing crosses which were not converted by a colleague at the back post.
It did get tedious in parts with United continually passing the ball for fun, when at times a more direct approach would have given the inexperienced Bridgwater defence something different to think about.
However, at the end of the day, it was three deserved points which got the Red & Whites back to winning ways.
