A five-goal blitz in the second half enabled Evesham United to blow away bottom club Bridgwater Town with Lance Smith scoring four times at Fairfax Park in the Evo-Stik Southern South & West Division. Things looked decidedly uneasy at half-time with the scoreline blank and the United strike force firing blanks. But the introduction of `big guns` Ashley Williams and Adam Mann, followed by Elliot Kennedy changed United`s fortunes dramatically and in the end ran out comfortable winners. Latest signing Leroy Odiero was absent through suspension and so the experienced Nick Stanley came in for the only change to United`s starting line-up that drew disappointingly with AFC Totton last time out.
On a poor playing surface, United were soon on the attack with Mark Magee firing across the face of goal and Smith charging down keeper Mark Childs` clearance but was unable to get ashot on target. Stanley then failed to get a decent contact on Lorcan Sheehan`s corner before Childs saved well from the dangerous Fahy. But the best chance of the half fell Smith`s way but after he`d sprung the offside trap the frontman lobbed wide with only Childs to beat.
Leading up to half-time, United had penalty shouts turned down after Fahy had burst into the box and appeared to be brought down from behind by Olisero Morris.
Smith: 4 goals
The Red and Whites badly needed a goal to settle any nerves and it eventually arrived ten minutes after the re-start courtesy of Smith`s well directed header from Sheehan`s cross. On came the replacements and United went on to put Bridgwater to the sword. Goal number two came about in the 68th minute, when Childs in attempting to gather Jordan Bryan`s cross, collided with Callum Laird and the ball cannoned off the Bridgwater defender into the net. Kennedy then struck a post before Smith made it 3-0 on 80 minutes blasting home from the penalty spot after Bryan had been pulled back by Ben Palmer in the area. Smith then added two more goals before the final whistle. Mann`s trickery set-up Smith who drove beyond Childs to complete a fine hat-trick and on the final whistle, Kennedy sent over a low cross that Smith expertly put away at the near post for 5-0.
After the game United manager Paul Collicutt said, “The pitch wasn`t the best but we tried to keep the ball on the deck which we did quite well at times. “It`s never an easy place to come to and they were always going to make life difficult for us. We did the basics by keeping another clean sheet and I was pleased to find the net five times away from home. “The game is all about good habits and the best habit of all is winning football matches.”
UNITED:
Sawyer, Dovey, Stanley, Turley, Harding, B.Williams (A.Williams 61),Bryan, Sheehan, Smith, Magee (Mann 66), Fahy (Kennedy 74).
Subs not used: Binns, Sysum
Referee: Mr T.Burley
Attendance: 143
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