Evesham were left wondering how they bowed out of the Red Insure Cup against Bedworth United on Tuesday after dominating the First Round tie at the Oval against their Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division hosts. Striker Aaron Wint`s `double` had fired the Greenbacks into a 2-0 lead just past the hour mark only for Robins` substitute Adam Mann to pull a goal back with seventeen minutes to go. This set-up a thrilling finish that saw United batter the Bedworth goal but a series of near misses and excellent goalkeeping enabled the home side to hang on for the victory by the skin of their teeth.
Manager Paul Collicutt made sweeping changes and handed a debut to 19-year-old winger, Jacob Sloggett. United set the tone for the evening when early efforts from Louis McGrory and Sloggett went close, as did Kevin Slack`s first-time volley from distance that fizzed just off target. Sloggett then lifted his shot over when well placed after good work by Dan Macdonald and then Macdonald`s delivery was deflected onto his own post by Bedworth defender Kyle Cartwright. Denham Hinds who had a brief spell with United some years back, then saved at his near post from the lively Sloggett but against the run of play Wint got on the scoresheet for the opening goal with Bedworth`s first shot on target after 39 minutes.
Bedworth held their slender lead until half-time but it wasn`t long before United were back on the attack in the second half. Cartwright and fellow defender Marlon Walters both threw their bodies on the line to get in solid blocks from George Washbourne and Macdonald and then Linden Dovey went on a mazey run from inside his own half before firing inches wide of Hind`s left-hand upright. But for all United`s pressure and neat football, it was the home side who broke away to score again on 64 minutes through Wint`s well placed header beyond Reserve Team keeper, Josh Goddard. Mann then struck for United in the 73rd minute courtesy of Hind`s miskick to roll the ball into an empty net from 10 yards. This was the signal for United to throw the kitchen sink at the wilting Bedworth defence but Hinds made amends for his error by producing some fine saves to deny the goal hungry United strikeforce especially from Liam Harding and McGrory. And when the Bedworth stopper was beaten, Sloggett`s cross was deflected onto the crossbar and Macdonald`s sweetly struck free-kick grazed the outside of a post. United`s relentless pressure continued well into stoppage-time with Hinds making more top class stops to prevent Harding again and Mann a richly deserved equaliser for the Red and Whites.
EVESHAM UNITED:
Goddard, McGrory, Wellon, Harding, Williams, Dovey, Washbourne (Binns 60), Brown (Mann 71), Slack (Smith 68), Macdonald, Sloggett.
SUBS NOT USED: Sysum, Wood
REFEREE: Mr M.Pearson (Dudley)
ATTENDANCE: 102
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