Louis McGrory capped an impressive debut for Evesham United by scoring an injury-time winner to earn the Robins their first home victory at the third attempt in Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West.

The 18-year-old, who was starting a one-month loan from National League side Forest Green Rovers, coolly found the net to ensure Paul Collicutt’s side their first three points on home soil and end Winchester’s unbeaten start to the season.

United were also indebted to experienced keeper Kevin Sawyer, who once again produced some excellent saves to keep out a strike-force that had already found the net 19 times in their opening four games.

The first-half was slow to get going with defences on top and the first real effort at goal arrived when United’s Clayton Green headed George Washbourne’s delivery just over at the back post. Soon afterwards, there was drama at the opposite end when Danny Cann struck the United woodwork.  Following a mammoth goalmouth scramble, the brave Sawyer, with the help of his defence, somehow kept out two goalbound shots with brave blocks before the danger was eventually cleared.

The game opened up more in the second-half with both sides looking more threatening in front of goal. Sean Wood tested Brendan Norris in the City goal and then Adam Mann forced the keeper to save low down at his near post. Winchester continued to look a tidy unit going forward but found Sawyer in top form. The giant stopper brilliantly kept out Cann, who had got clean through on goal, and then Adam Roberts suffered the same fate when Sawyer spread himself to make another breathtaking stop.

McGrory winner on debut

McGrory winner on debut

Winchester looked to be heading back to Hampshire with a point but, for all their organised defending, could do nothing to prevent McGrory’s 92nd-minute goal. The youngster sidestepped a defender in the box before finding the corner of the net for United’s last-gasp winner.

Evesham: Sawyer, McGrory, Wellon, Williams (Harding 74), Sysum, Dovey, Washbourne, Wood, Edenborough (Slack 69), Mann, Green (Stanley 60).

Subs not used: Lee Smith, Brown.

Attendance: 227


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