On-song Evesham United moved into an Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West play-off spot with a convincing 3-0 win at Clevedon Town. The fifth-placed Robins have rattled up six straight wins to extend their unbeaten run to seven games ahead of the big Boxing Day home clash with high-flying rivals Stratford Town (3pm).

Stanley: Another brace

Stanley: Another brace

Keeper Kevin Sawyer kept another clean sheet at Clevedon and has been beaten just once in 540 minutes of football. Striker Adam Mann started the last game of his first month’s loan from Gloucester City, while latest signing Ollie Knowles was on the bench after joining from Paulton Rovers. Evesham set their stall out from the start with a series of attacks that put the Clevedon defence under the cosh. Mann forced Kane Mannings into an early save and then Ashley Edenborough wriggled clear on the edge of the box but fired straight at the Seasiders keeper. A last-ditch challenge at the other end by Linden Dovey on Aaron Robbins denied the Town striker. But it was no surprise when Evesham drew first blood on 20 minutes. Sawyer’s punt was latched onto by Nick Stanley, who swept in a low drive past the diving Mannings into the far corner. United’s second goal 10 minutes later was down to a blunder by Mannings when he let Sean Wood’s corner slip through his grasp to present Stanley with a simple tap-in at the back post. Before half-time, Mannings denied Stanley his hat-trick by holding a stinging shot that looked to be fizzing into the back of the net.

But a third and final goal was not long in coming after the restart. Stanley’s driven cross on 55 minutes was met by Mann, who buried an unstoppable shot past Mannings.  Evesham were now in cruise control but still went in search of more goals. Chances that fell to Edenborough, Mann and Carl Brown were not converted but it mattered little as United strolled through the rest of the game to wrap up their first league double of the season.

Evesham: Sawyer, Wood, Wellon, Harding, Sysum (Knowles 64), Dovey, Brown (Wilson 69), Stanley, Edenborough, Mann, Washbourne (L Smith 69).

Subs not used: Drake, Binns.

Attendance: 142.


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