With both sides going for promotion this game was always going to be a tight affair, the early exchanges only seemed to confirm this.
Brown scored 2 in 2
It was Evesham that found their rhythm earliest and the 245 strong ‘noisy’ crowd only had to wait until the 8th minute to watch the ball going into the net. Some good passing football by The Robins eventually ended up at the feet of Archie Haskayne, his pinpoint pass found Carl Brown in the Bristol Manor Farm box, Browns superb shot was too much for Ashley Clark in the visitor’s goal.
The early goal settled the Evesham nerves and they were able to play some good free flowing football, passing the ball with great confidence. A chance to double the advantage came on 22 minutes when Brown made a good run into the Bristol box but, was unable to find another Robin with his pass. The chances kept coming for the home side with Adam Mann putting a shot just over the bar, Hancock also put one over the bar following a mazy run.
With Evesham now controlling the game, the visitors were always going to create a chance and they did in the 37th minute, Bristol Manor Farms Jamie Turner struck the ball from 25 yards and his shot was heading goalward until it met the head of Matt Liddiard who put the ball away to safety. The final chance of the first half once again fell to the hosts, this time it was Liddard’s header that ended up just over the bar.
The second half started in the same way the first ended with Evesham controlling the game for long periods, with the only real chance of the half falling to Adam Mann in a one on one with Bristol keeper Clark, whose block denied Evesham their opportunity to increase their lead.
A good defensive performance by The Robins meant that the visitors were limited to just a handful of long distance chances, with a single goal lead it was obviously nervy at times but a confident Evesham side were a match for anything Bristol had to offer on a bitterly cold afternoon.
The prize for three points was third position in the Evo-Stik Southern West Division table, two home wins back to back has now put Evesham well and truly back into the promotion play-off hunt.
Evesham Utd: Sawyer, Dovey©, Wellon, Hancock, A Williams, Liddiard, Bryan, Haskayne, Brown (Fahy 72), Mann, Bennett.
Subs not used: Dunbar, Francis, Lewis, Tustin.
Bristol Manor Farm: Clark, Tovey, Turner, Lock (Walters 74), Kingdon, Mills, Adams, Harvey (Bament 64), Stamp, Metters©, Simpson.
Sub not used: Fernandez
Attendance: 245
Pictures by Stuart Purfield here
