Evesham United were cruelly undone by a 119th minute penalty after a truly heroic effort at Salisbury in an absorbing Southern League Division One South and West play-off semi-final.
They had to play for 80 minutes with 10 men after midfielder Ashley Williams was sent off in the first half for a lunging challenge on Elliot Wheeler, despite appearing to win the ball cleanly. The referee deemed it dangerous, but many disagreed.
The late drama does not even tell half the story though. The visitors already felt aggrieved at a penalty awarded to the hosts and saved by the magnificent Kevin Sawyer in the first period of extra-time and the red card shown to Williams.
Sawyer: Saved penalty
Salisbury had made the stronger start and only a string of fine saves from Kevin Sawyer kept them out as it remained goalless at the break. Claudio Herbert gave the hosts a 53rd-minute lead when he fired in a low strike after a cross was only half cleared. Evesham responded brilliantly, outplaying their hosts and deservedly levelled late on when Mann showed great composure to score after an excellent through ball, five minutes from the end. The Robins came close to an injury-time winner when Lance Smith headed narrowly wide from Garyn Preen’s cross, but extra-time was needed.
Lady luck appeared to be smiling on Salisbury again when they were handed a 98th-minute penalty following Leroy Odeiro’s seemingly fair challenge on Wright which ended with Odeiro, Lorcan Sheehan and Matt Williams all being booked for their protestations. However, Sawyer dived to his right to make a superb one-handed save to keep out Wright’s spot-kick.
Lance Smith had made his comeback from an ankle injury in the 68th minute and with him and Mann up front, Evesham caused major problems for the Salisbury defence. At the other end, the lightning quick Wright was well handled by Matt Williams, with Linden Dovey and Odiero producing outstanding displays either side of the former Gloucester City defender.
Sawyer’s long kick was flicked on by Smith and Mann’s effort looped just over the bar in the 103rd minute as Evesham looked the more likely winners. The fitness levels on show were remarkable, with Archie Haskayne playing like a man possessed.
Substitute Garyn Preen also lit up extra-time with some direct runs on the left wing and one of his deliveries was cleared off the line by Eddie Perrett in the 109 minute.
It looked like it would take something special to beat Sawyer and with him in goal, Evesham would have fancied their chances in a shoot-out. But with less than two minutes of extra-time remaining, Carl Brown could not cut out a long ball and Dovey brought down Taurean Roberts in the box. Salisbury had another penalty and this time Wright sent Sawyer the wrong way for his 51 goal of the season.
It was a heartbreaking end for Evesham, who performed so well against the league runners-up, who will now go on to face Tiverton Town in the final at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium on Monday afternoon.
A distraught Collicutt said: “I am heartbroken. My players were absolutely magnificent and we find the decisions given against us very hard to take.
“I am hurting more now than any other result which has ever gone against me in my career. It hurts so badly. The lads gave their all and the support from our fans was brilliant.
“Despite being without six or seven key players, including a couple out for 12 months or so, we gave a performance I am immensely proud of. It speaks volumes for the character we have within the club.
“Salisbury made the better start but we grew into the game and by the end I am positive any neutral leaving the ground would have said we deserved to win.
“There were Salisbury fans coming up to me and saying there were injustices in the decisions and result. We looked fitter in extra time despite playing so long with ten men, but I simply cannot believe some of the decisions given against us.
“Given some of the obstacles we have had to overcome this season, we did incredibly well to even reach the play-offs. Everyone connected with the club worked their socks off for the cause and everyone in our dressing room shed some tears.”
Pictures by Stuart Purfield here
Match highlights here
Interview with Colly here
Evesham United: K Sawyer; L Dovey, M Williams, L Odiero; J Bryan (L Smith 68), A Williams, A Haskayne, C Brown, P Fahy (G Preen 80), A Mann, M Magee (L Sheehan 46). Subs not used: N Stanley, L Binns.
Referee: P Johnson.
Attendance: 1,395
