A half-time team talk built the foundations for an impressive second half display by Evesham who overturned a first half deficit to beat Chasetown in an FA Trophy Preliminary Round replay at the Jubilee Stadium on Tuesday night.
It was a game of two halves with Chasetown looking the sharper of the two sides before the interval and held a comfortable 1-0 lead at half-time. However, after a few choice words from manager Paul Collicutt at the break, the second half saw a dramatic turn around with United
in scintillating form and and in the end gained revenge for the early FA Cup exit against the Scholars in August.
Chasetown continued where they left off in the first game at Church Road by dominating from the kick-off and it was no surprise when Ryan Wynter fired the visitors into a 1-0 lead with 20 minutes on the clock. United continued to be second best for much of the half, even though half chances fell to Adam Mann and Dan Macdonald and Nick Stanley fired across the face of goal following a clever one-two with Lance Smith. Wynter then went close to adding a second for Chasetown having his goal-bound shot cleared as the visitors finished the half on the front foot.
Mann scored equaliser

Mann scored equaliser

United resumed for the second half as if they meant business and early on, only a last-ditch tackle on Mann prevented the Robins striker from grabbing a leveller. Former Evesham stopper John Bateman then saved from Ashley Williams but on 53 minutes the equaliser duly arrived courtesy of Stanley`s excellent delivery from the left that was swept in by Mann from six yards. The whole complexion of the game had changed and moments after the goal, Smith got clean through but snatched his shot and Bateman was able to save. United, though, didn`t have to wait long before going ahead for the first time in the tie. Stan Mugisha clipped Macdonald as he raced into the box and for the second game running Matt Sysum sent Bateman the wrong way from the penalty spot to make it 2-1 with his 3rd goal of the season.

 

 
United dominated the remainder of the game and were camped in the Chasetown half. Macdonald, twice, Smith and Mann all went within a whisker of finding the back of the net and when skipper Sysum did head home in the last minute his effort was disallowed for a foul on Bateman. There was still time for Red and Whites substitute Kevin Slack to pull his shot just wide of an upright with Bateman beaten just seconds before the final whistle.

In the end United were good value for the win and now look forward to a home game against Redditch United in the First Qualifying Round on Saturday 31st October.
EVESHAM UNITED:
Sawyer, Harding, Wellon, Williams, Sysum, Dovey, Washbourne, Smith (Slack 86), Mann, Macdonald (Brown 82), Stanley (Green 70).
Subs not used: Wood, Binns
REFEREE: Mr A.Hendley (Halesowen)

ATTENDANCE: 163


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