Ben Hayes put Evesham ahead
Southern League Division One South
Evesham United 1-1 Bristol Manor Farm
The visitors started the game applying early pressure but, were unable to get past a resolute Evesham defence. It was then the turn of the home side to take the game to The Farm, chances for Chamberlain & Chambers were unable to find the target.
With 12 minutes on the clock Adam Mace’s precision corner dropped right under the bar, only to be parried away by Ben John in the Bristol Manor Farm goal. With both sides cancelling each other out the next real chance came on the half hour, BMF’s Ben Bament cleverly work his way into the Evesham box before eventually getting his shot off from a wide angle, only to see it cleared by the dependable Matt Williams.
Evesham had a chance to take the lead right on half time, substitute Sean Brain got behind the visitor’s defence and his cross found the head of Ben Hayes whose header went just over the bar.
As the second half got underway it was obvious that both sides had gone up a gear. Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist almost gave the visitors the lead, denied by The Robins crossbar. Evesham were denied by 2 goal line clearances in 3 minutes, the first saw Karnell Chambers twist his way into the box with his shot cleared off the line. The same player was involved in an excellent 1-2 move with Tom Chamberlain whose strike was again cleared off the line.
With the home side now dominating play, it only seemed like a matter of time before a goal would come. In the 65th minute Hayes found Brain in the box, his quick shot beat the keeper, only to be denied by the post.
The 185 strong crowd had to wait until the last 10 minutes of the game to see a goal. Evesham United took the lead when Ben Hayes dribbled his way into the box before finding the back of the net, with a well-placed strike wide of the visiting keeper.
The points were shared when Evesham were not able to clear the ball from their box, Bristol’s Leigh-Gilchrist scored from close range with 86 minutes on the clock.
EUFC MoM: Tom Chamberlain
Attendance: 185
Evesham United: Clayton, Lymn, Johnson, Williams, Paddock, Sheehan, Hayes, Chamberlain, Lucas (Brain 38), Chambers, Mace.
Subs Not Used: Hunt, Clayton, Owusu.
