It was an injury hit Evesham that would try and put a stop to Taunton’s unbeaten run, in a game that would be very feisty at time. The Robin’s had the first meaningful shot of this top of the table clash, from Nick Hancock, but it went just wide of the visitor’s post. From that point the current league leaders show they meant business and hadn’t come the Evesham to make up the numbers. It only took Taunton seven minutes to stamp their authority on the game, when Dan Sullivan turned his defender and his pinpoint shot gave Evesham goalkeeper Sawyer no chance.
Just five minutes later Taunton Town increased their lead, Pierce Mitchell was on the receiving end of some pinpoint passing and was able to fire home from close range, Sullivan was denied his second goal thanks to a brilliant piece of defending from Odiero on 17 minutes.
With Taunton now keeping the ball for long periods with some great passing, great movement off the ball and excellent pressure on the ball whenever they lost it, Evesham’s periods of possession were few and far between and they were unable to get into Taunton’s final third of the pitch. The last five minutes of the first half saw the home side show more desire, but they were still unable to make any impression on the visitor’s defence. Two superb saves from Kevin Sawyer in the final minute of the first half kept the score at 2-0 as the first period came to an end.
An early chance yet again came the way of the Robin’s when Nick Hancock’s free kick found the head of Lewis Powell whose header went just wide of the Taunton post. It was then the turn of Mark Francis whose shot was easily saved by the visiting keeper. The best strike of the game came from Haskayne in the 73rd minute but, his shot was tipped over the bar by Irish in the Taunton goal.
Some poor defending allowed Sullivan the opportunity to score his second and Taunton’s third on 83 minutes, extending the visitors unbeaten run to 14 games.
Evesham Utd: Sawyer, Dovey, Odiero (Francis 58), Haskayne, M Williams, A Williams (Sheehan 76), Bryan, Hancock (Brown 71), Powell, Fahy, Bennett Subs not used: Turley, Rhodes.
Attendance: 246
