Evesham`s impressive sequence of results continued at Thornhill Park on Wednesday night with the 5-1 mauling of Slimbridge in the Evo-Stik Southern South & West Division. Despite taking an early lead, Slimbridge were put to the sword by a rampant United side who went on to dominate the contest from start to finish.
It`s the second game inside four days United have struck five goals, following on from the 5-1 spanking dished out to Larkhall Athletic last Saturday. Such was United`s dominance, Paul Collicutt`s men amassed 25 shots at goal with eleven on target and accumulated a corner count well into double figures. Collicutt was forced into making one change with Leroy Odiero who is on loan from Gloucester City until the end of the season, coming in for the injured Nick Stanley who was named on the bench.
United were caught cold straight from the kick-off with Evesham `old boy` Lee Smith, firing the Swans into a 2nd minute lead tucking away Marley Thomas` ring-wing cross. However, the home side`s lead didn`t last long before leading scorer Lance Smith capitalised on poor handling by home keeper Adrian Kowalski and despite the close attentions of several defenders managed to force the ball home from close range. United cranked up the pressure, Adam Mann squandered an opportunity to put United ahead when he dithered on the ball after rounding Kowalski and then former Swan Paul Fahy had his shot blocked on the line by Ed Ward.
Fahy bagged two goals on return
United began the second half with a bang with Odiero firing the Robins into a 2-1 lead after the home defence had failed to clear Lorcan Sheehan`s flighted corner kick. Mann sent a delicate chip just over and Odiero met Sheehan`s corner with a powerful header only to have it whipped off the line again by Ward. But on the hour a third goal deservedly arrived courtesy of Fahy`s excellent run and clinical finish into the far corner after good work by the hardworking Smith. Five minutes later any hopes Slimbridge had of forcing their way back into the game totally disappeared when midfielder Ryan Thwaite was sent-off for picking-up two yellow cards. A third goaline clearance denied Mann who had danced his way into the box and then the same player went close with a glancing header with Kowalski no where to be seen. United were now in cruise control and made it 4-1 through Sheehan in the 71st minute, when the midfield dynamo headed in his first goal of the season after the chance had been cleverly set-up with Mann`s knock-back across the face of goal. Kowalski who looked uncomfortable between the sticks all night, redeemed himself with a couple of full length saves to keep out Joe Turley and Sheehan, but was picking the ball out of his net for a fifth time in the last minute when the impressive Fahy bagged his 2nd goal of the game with another great finish to put the gloss on another sparkling United performance.
Collicutt said after the game, “Slimbridge is a hard place to come especially at night, they don`t lose many at home and recently they beat big-hitters Salisbury. I was very pleased with the effort and the way we went about playing our football. On a personal note, it ended my hoodoo of coming here more than a dozen times with various clubs and never winning a game!”
UNITED:
Sawyer, Dovey, Odiero, Turley, Harding, Williams (Wellon 80), Kennedy (Sloggett 47), Sheehan, Smith (Magee 73), Mann, Fahy.
Subs not used: Stanley, Gilder
Referee: Mr D.Nicholson
Attendance: 164
