A superb strike by midfielder Ben Evans ensured Evesham United ended their nine-match pre-season programme on a winning note against West Midlands League Premier Division Bewdley Town. It was a competitive work-out for Paul Collicutt`s men at Ribbesford Meadows ahead of United`s South & West opener at Fleet on Saturday. Indeed, Bewdley`s Ben Bates was asked to leave the field after a succession of rash challenges and an unsavoury incident involving a number of United players in the second-half.
The pacy Elliot Kennedy went close to giving the Robins an early lead when he headed Lewis Binn`s pin-point delivery against the woodwork
before Evans struck the only goal on 19 minutes. The youngster seized onto a poor clearance by Rob Galloway some 25 yards out and returned an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net beyond the bewildered Bewdley keeper. In a rare breakaway by the hosts, Russ Godfrey pulled his shot wide and then Kennedy at the opposite end miskicked in front of goal from another excellent cross by the impressive Binns. Jack Watts then squandered a good chance to increase United`s lead before half-time blazing over after Kennedy and the hardworking Aaron Drake had combined with some neat skills and trickery down the right.
HALF-TIME: BEWDLEY TOWN (0) EVESHAM UNITED (1)
Kennedy continued to cause the home side problems in the second-half, having one shot cleared off the line by Shaun Wright after rounding
Galloway and then setting-up Carl Brown on his return from injury who failed to convert from close range. Kevin Sawyer who saw little of the ball in the United goal, made his only save of the game on the hour mark flinging himself to superbly touch over Simon Rodd`s rasping drive.
The game then deteriorated following a number of customary substitutions, Kennedy did go close again before the end capitalising on poor marking at the back, however, Galloway was up to the task gathering low at his near post as the Red and Whites finished the contest on top.
EVESHAM UNITED:
Sawyer, Drake, Binns, Wilson, Sysum, Dovey (Wellon 75), Evans (Sauntson 71), Wood (Harding 65), Edenborough (Brown 44 (Saunders 80), Kennedy, Watts.
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