Evesham put the memories of last month`s league defeat against Shortwood behind them with a well deserved 1-0 victory at Meadowbank in the Preliminary Round of the FA Trophy. Adam Mann`s goal against his former club settled the tie meaning Paul Collicutt`s men will now face Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division side Frome Town in the First Round at the Jubilee Stadium on Saturday 29th October.
A delighted Collicutt said after the game, “I thought we edged it and felt we were the better side especially in the second-half. Shortwood is always a difficult place to come and not many teams come here and win. The victory was for our supporters who were owed that win after our poor performance here a few weeks back.” The United boss made five changes to the starting eleven that lost at Leamington in the Southern League Challenge Cup last week with latest signing Leroy Odiero on the substitutes bench after his move from Gloucester City until the end of the season.
Mann scored only goal
The first 45 minutes was played at breathtaking pace with both sides battling it out for midfield supremacy. Early chances at both ends came and went with the best opportunity falling to United`s Liam Harding whose goalbound header was hacked off the line by Wood`s defender Nick Humphries. Earlier the dangerous Will Morford created a decent chance for himself but the reliable Kevin Sawyer came to United`s rescue with an outstanding save to keep out the Shortwood frontman. Mann volleyed over following good work down the right by Jordan Bryan before going one better on 35 minutes by scoring the only goal of the game. United won a corner on the left and from Lorcan Sheehan`s flag-kick, Mann acrobatically volleyed home at the back post.
United took control in the second-half restricting the home side to few efforts on goal and leaving them chasing the game to stay in the competition. Mann went close to doubling the score in the 55th minute but after dancing past several Shortwood defenders his shot struck apost before going behind. With the Shortwood defence stretched, Mann this time should have found the target but headed over the crossbar from inside the six-yard box with the goal at his mercy.
Any Shortwood comeback to salvage a replay never materialised and it was the Red and Whites who finished the game on top. The hardworking Lance Smith set-up an opportunity for substitute Elliot Kennedy who drilled his first-time shot just over and twice the speedy Paul Fahy got behind the Shortwood back-four to fire across the face of goal and beyond the far post.
UNITED:
Sawyer, Dovey, Stanley, Turley, Harding, A.Williams, Bryan (Kennedy 63), Sheehan, Smith, Mann (Magee 75), Fahy (Binns 82).
Subs not used: Sysum, Odiero
Referee: Mr J.Ainscow (Swindon)
Attendance: 134
