Ruthless Evesham rallied to an impressive 5-1 victory over fellow play-off hopefuls Mangotsfield United at Cossham Street with striker Lance Smith getting two of the goals in what may be his last appearance for the club with Redditch United keen to sign the 26 goal hot-shot. The Reds are holding talks with the former Badsey Rangers front man but boss Paul Collicutt is hopeful the Evo-Stik South & West Division`s leading scorer will stop and continue to play his football at the Jubilee Stadium. Smith and Adam Mann have become a formidable partnership up front for the Robins and the most feared strike force in the division but a backwards step to the newly named Trico Stadium would be a massive blow to United`s hopes of finishing in the play-offs.
Mangotsfield were outclassed by a slick and energetic United outfit, who after a blip over Christmas have now won three games in a row and rise into second place above Tiverton Town on goal difference, who lost 3-2 at home to Swindon Supermarine on Saturday.
Sheehan opened the scoring
United started the game with the same eleven that triumphed 3-1 over Winchester City in midweek and should have taken the lead almost immediately but after racing clear Smith had his shot pushed aside by Steve Phillips. Veteran goalkeeper Phillips, who spent time on loan at Evesham from Bristol City at the start of his career then safely gathered Smith`s header before United took a 19th minute lead. Smith provided the cross inside the box to Lorcan Sheehan whose first-time shot gave Phillips no chance. Mangotsfield went straight up the other end from the kick-off as a Ryan Batten header was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by the nimble Kevin Sawyer. Play quickly resumed in the Mangotsfield half with Garyn Preen`s cross from the right coming back off the woodwork before being cleared by Connor McCormack. But with 26 minutes on the clock, United increased the lead to 2-0 courtesy of Tom Warren`s own goal, who under pressure from Mann headed Lewis Binns` left-wing cross into his own net. Three minutes later Mangotsfield got themselves back in the game when Linden Dovey`s headed back-pass fell short of Sawyer and Liam Monelle capitalised on the mistake to lob over the advancing stopper. United, however, restored their two-goal advantage leading up to half-time when Sheehan`s cross picked out Smith who cleverly steered the ball home at the near post for 3-1.
The tempo of the game dropped a little in the second-half but United continued to dominate, constantly ripping the home defence apart with a combination of movement and pace. Smith burst through again only for Phillips to make a good save low to his left. Substitute Ryan Bath wasted a couple of half chances for Mangotsfield before two more goals were added to seal an emphatic win for the Red and Whites. Phillips could only push Sheehan`s in-swinging corner onto his crossbar and the ball fell kindly to the unmarked Smith who nudged home from close range to make it 4-1. In stoppage-time Smith was involved in goal number five, when his goal-bound shot was blocked by Mango`s skipper Scott Brice and Batten and the ball squirted out nicely to substitute Paul Fahy who easily found the net to complete the scoring.
A delighted Collicutt said, “The display was the closest we`ve come to a complete 90 minute performance this season. We were tremendous from start to finish and to score five goals away from home against a side in the play-offs was very pleasing. “We created chance after chance and every one of my players were on top of their game. Once again our supporters travelled in numbers and I was pleased we gave them another performance to shout about.”
UNITED:
Sawyer, Dovey, Stanley, Sheehan, Harding, Williams (Bryan 68), Preen (Fahy 63), Haskayne, Smith, Mann, Binns (Kennedy 82).
Subs not used: Odiero, Magee
Referee: Mr B.Williamson
Attendance: 198
