Evesham went into their Worcestershire Senior Cup First Round tie against Stourbridge without eight regulars but gave a good account of themselves before sliding to a narrow defeat at Amblecote on Tuesday night.
United were severely depleted without the services of Lewis Binns, Carl Brown, Sean Wood, Ashley Edenborough, Lance Smith, Harry Williams and former Stourbridge duo Aaron Drake and Harry Washbourne. Forcing manager Paul Collicutt to bring in a number of youngsters from United`s Reserve Team to help get a side on the park.
Stanley close in first half with shot
Evesham who were beaten finalists last season, made their customary poor start when Junior Smikle found the net to give the Glassboys a 4th minute lead. For the rest of the half, however, United looked neat and tidy and could easily have gone in at half-time on level terms. Former Robins keeper Dean Coleman twice spread himself to save form the dangerous Elliot Kennedy and then touched Nick Stanley`s shot onto a post before scrambling the ball clear. In the last action of the half, Coleman got down to smother Kennedy`s drive, only for Kevin Slack who was following-up to blaze the loose ball high and wide.
Stourbridge looked brighter during the early stages of the second-half and extended their lead to 2-0 through Kayelden Brown on 63 minutes when the midfielder found the top corner despite United stopper Kevin Sawyer getting a good hand on the ball. Reserve Team striker Ty Knight who made a favourable impression after coming on for Slack, then scored his first-ever senior goal for United with a well struck volley to cut the Glassboy`s lead to 2-1 with eight minutes to go. Despite one or two scares before the final whistle, the home side saw out five minutes of stoppage-time to book a semi-final spot at Kidderminster Harriers.
EVESHAM UNITED: Sawyer, Wilson (Smith 80), Wellon, Harding, Sysum, Dovey, Jackson, Stanley, Palmer, Kennedy (Comfort 83), Slack (Knight 82).
SUB NOT USED: Goddard
REFEREE: Mr G.Warren (Bromsgrove)
ATTENDANCE: 156
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