After despatching league leaders Merthyr Town in midweek, Evesham were at it again turning over high-flying Larkhall Athletic at The Plain Ham ground to make it five consecutive victories in the Evo-
Stik Southern South & West Division. United`s match winner was captain Matt Sysum who tucked away a second half penalty which extended the Robins unbeaten league run to six games.
Evesham were forced to make one change to their starting line-up from the side that put an end to Merthyr`s undefeated home league record, midfielder Carl Brown came in for the injured Marcus Jackson who limped off with a calf injury at the Cigg-e Stadium on Tuesday night.
Edenborough opened scoring
United made the perfect start when Ashley Edenborough produced an explosive finish to give Paul Collicutt`s men the lead with just three minutes on the clock. Evesham continued on the front foot and went close to adding to their lead when Gloucester City loanee Adam Mann turned his marker in the box but shaved a post with keeper Alex Shaftoe beaten. The Lark`s stopper then denied Liam Harding his first ever goal for United when he dived full-length to push the youngster`s shot around a post. After that, Larkhall upped their game and Evesham were indebted to Kevin Sawyer for keeping the Red and Whites slender lead intact. The giant stopper was kept busy making fabulous saves to keep out goal-bound efforts from leading scorer Tyler Sibbick, Matt Thorne and Luke Bryan. On 38 minutes, however, Sawyer conceded his first goal in five games when he could do nothing to prevent Ben Horan from levelling for the Lark`s with a powerful strike from 25 yards. On the stroke of half-time, Shaftoe prevented Evesham from holding an interval lead with an acrobatic save to palm aside George Washbourne`s well flighted free-kick.
Evesham went on to dominate possession in the second half but found Larkhall`s packed defence difficult to break down. But that all changed in the 70th minute when Mann burst into the box only to be hauled to the ground in full flight by the lunging Horan and Sysum confidently stepped-up to send Shaftoe the wrong way from the penalty spot for his 6th goal of the season. Before the final whistle, Shaftoe prevented Lance Smith who has rejected a move to Stourbridge, from adding a third goal when he made a brave block after the United substitute had weaved his way through by now Larkhall`s creaking back-four.
EVESHAM UNITED: Sawyer, Wood, Wellon, Harding, Sysum, Dovey, Brown, Stanley, Edenborough (Smith 69), Mann, Washbourne (Binns 63).
SUBS NOT USED: Drake and Wilson.
REFEREE: Mr S.Shaw (Bristol)
ATTENDANCE: 130
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