Evesham`s play-off bid in the Evo-Stik Southern South & West Division continued to gain momentum thanks to Lewis Binns` early strike at the Cuthbury. The Hartpury College youngster got on the end of Jacob Sloggett`s driven cross after just three minutes for the only goal and
seal United`s first league double of the season. The Red and Whites, however, made heavy weather of defeating a plucky Wimborne and should have wrapped the game up by half-time. But a catalogue of near misses and good goalkeeping by Magpies, Shane Murphy, kept the home side interested until the final whistle. As it was, Binns` first goal of the season proved enough to return from Dorset with maximum points and it`s now just one defeat in twelve for Paul Collicutt`s men.
Wimborne who were taken over by a consortium in midweek, included Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain brother of Arsenal and England`s Alex and Kaleem Haitham in their line-up, who were both making their first starts for the home side on-loan from Football League Two table-toppers Portsmouth. United on the other hand, welcomed back midfielder Ashley Williams from suspension and added 18-year-old Bidford-based, Bradley Whelan to the substitutes bench.
Despite the long journey to the south coast, United began at breathtaking pace and silenced the home crowd by taking a 3rd minute lead.
Sloggett who terrorised Wimborne with his pace all afternoon, skated past several defenders before finding the onrushing Binns, who rifled home past the sprawling Murphy. There was continued urgency and intent from United after the goal, yet in the final third a number of last-ditch tackles, well supported by Murphy, prevented United from adding to their lead. Murphy pushed aside efforts from Sloggett, Adam Mann and leading scorer Lance Smith and then the Wimborne stopper could only stand and watch shots from Williams and Nick Stanley fizz narrowly wide. United, though, were given a fright approaching half-time but Kevin Sawyer was on his metal to make a fine save after Haitham had found space in the United penalty box.
Binns scored only goal
United carved out another opportunity soon after the re-start when Murphy saved from Smith and Sloggett following-up was denied by defender Billy Maybury, who spread himself to make a brave block in the six-yard box. On the hour, Mann galloped through the home defence looking to put the game to bed, but saw his drive agonisingly come back off a post before being cleared. Carl Preston who looked dangerous down the Wimborne left, then tested Sawyer who brilliantly bent backwards to touch the ball over. Wimborne were now looking threatening for the first-time in the match and following a frantic goalmouth scramble, Sawyer came to United`s rescue hooking the ball off his goaline and away to safety. United, however, wethered the storm and went on to finish the game on the attack. A number of half chances were not taken but the single goal proved enough and with skipper for the day, Linden Dovey outstanding at the back any attacking threat from Wimborne fizzled out to nothing and leave the Robins 8th in the table, just five points outside the play-offs.
Collicutt reflected; ” Looking at the pitch before the game, I knew we would be in for a battle and that`s how it turned out. We made a brilliant start but couldn`t find a second goal to kill the game off. I thought we were by far the better side over the 90 minutes and nobody could argue we didn`t deserve to win the game. He added: Wimborne are a team in transition, they are bringing in new players and will improve between now and the end of the season, causing one or two upsets along the way. I keep going on about keeping clean sheets but they are important and once again big Kevin Sawyer did the business when called upon.”
EVESHAM UNITED:
Sawyer, Wilson (Brown 72), Stanley, Williams, Dovey, Wellon, Sloggett (Taylor 89), Wood, Mann, Smith, Binns.
Subs not used: Whelan, Modest
REFEREE: Mr M.Rushton (Pewsey)
ATTENDANCE: 203
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