Evesham`s winless streak was extended to nine League and Cup games despite returning home with a creditable draw at fourth placed Taunton Town in the Evo-Stik Southern South & West Division. Paul Collicutt`s side looked to be heading for defeat as the game entered its second minute of stoppage-time, but Sean Wood`s flag-kick was handled in the box by a home defender and skipper Matt Sysum successfully tucked away the resulting penalty. It was no more than United deserved, who went into the game without their entire strikeforce and so handed a debut to Adam Mann who joined the previous day on one-months loan from Vanarama North side Gloucester City.
Evesham`s worrying habit of conceding early goals struck once again when Jamie Price was given the freedom of the Viridor Stadium to head home Jamie Short`s corner after just five minutes. Mann who looked prominent for United going forward, had a header well saved by Lloyd Irish as play switched to the other end and then he beat the Peacock`s keeper only to see the ball smash against a post before being cleared. Neither side created too much for the rest of the half, United stopper Kevin Sawyer did make a flying save to his left from Kyle Bassett on his Taunton debut, restricting the home side to a slender 1-0 lead at the break.
HALF-TIME: Taunton Town (1) Evesham United (0)
Sysum scored injury time penalty
Sawyer showed his class soon after the re-start depriving Price a second goal, but after that, it was Evesham who went on to dominate possession for the rest of the game. Irish bent backwards to safely hold Kevin Slack`s cross-shot and Mann`s goalbound drive was deflected wide with Irish struggling to make his ground.
United continued to press in search of an equaliser, Sysum lifted his shot over the bar when well placed but in added-time Sawyer joined his teamates for Wood`s corner, resulting in a handball and spot-kick which was coolly converted by Sysum. There was still time for Sawyer to make an important save from Graham Mercieca and ensure Evesham another well earned point on their travels.
EVESHAM UNITED: Sawyer, Wilson, Wellon, Harding, Sysum, Dovey, Jackson, Stanley, Palmer (Wood 73), Mann, Slack (Drake 63).
SUBS NOT USED: Comfort and Binns
REFEREE: Mr D.Ricketts (Portishead)
ATTENDANCE: 250
0 Comments