Evesham United manager Paul Collicutt was looking for improvements from last Sunday’s defeat to Wimborne and the first half probably did nothing to change his mood, neither side seemed to want to take control of the game. The Robins first chance came in the 7th minute when Adam Mann but the ball just wide of the post with a trademark strike from the edge of the box, with the next opportunity coming when loanee Ethan Moore headed just wide from an Adam Mann free kick.
“Lids” scored with two headers
Barnstaple Town the visitors from North Devon offered nothing in attack, they appeared to be happy to sit back and defend, occasionally putting a long ball out of defence trying to hit Evesham on the break. As the first half closed out the home side were starting to get on top but were still not able to get past a crowded Barum box. It was a first half that saw a mere handful of chances created, with unwavering defending from the visitors being the key to the first half.
The hosts provided the 198 spectators with a much-improved performance in the second half with a lot more opportunities, Lewis Powell headed over the bar, Ethan Moore and Matt Liddiard both had chances blocked by an overcrowded visitors box.
It was time for a change to ‘The Robins’ on pitch personnel and the 62nd minute introduction of Bradley Gray looked like it could be the game changer, straight away Gray probed deep into the visitor’s half with his efforts being rewarded in the 73rd minute. His corner from the right was met in the box by Matt Liddiard whose powerful header evaded all, in yet another crowded Barnstaple box, the deadlock was finally broken.
Just four minutes later the same pair combined for ‘The Robins’ second goal, this time from the opposite side of the pitch, this time Gray’s free-kick from the left again found Liddiard who headed home for his and Evesham’s second goal.
On a day when the hosts seemed like the only side prepared to attack, and the visitors offering nothing going forward Evesham’s keeper Sawyer never had a single worthwhile save to make.
Evesham United: Sawyer, Dovey, Odeiro, A. Williams (Sheehan 72), M. Williams, Liddiard, Fahy (Gray 62), Mann, Moore, Powell, Binns (Brown 68)
Subs Not Used: Peel, Haskayne
Barnstaple Town: Fisher, Humphreys, Walton (Reay 88), Gray, Ibbeson, Fisher, Booth, Heeney, Charran, Rickard, Williams (Setherton 78)
Subs Not Used: Copp, Darch, Pears
Goals: Liddiard 73 minutes, Liddiard 77 minutes.
Attendance: 198
