Adam Mann`s 50th goal for Evesham United was not enough to prevent higher-ranked Frome Town from forcing a 1-1 draw and a replay in the First round qualifying of the Buildbase FA Trophy. The draw means both sides will have to do it all again at the Special Effect Stadium on Wednesday night with the winners travelling to Evo-Stik Division One Central side Hanwell Town in the Second round qualifying on Saturday 12th November.
Mann – 50 for club
United should have wrapped things up at the Jubilee Stadium but failed to see off an ordinary Frome side who will now be favourites to make it through to the next stage of the competition. To make matters worse for the Robins, influential midfielder Ashley Williams was sent-off near the end for a lunge on former United team-mate Clayton Green and will now face a three game ban for his misdemeanour.
Despite the draw United boss Paul Collicutt was upbeat about his sides performance, “It was a decent display but against sides in a higher league you`ve got to take your chances, if not it will come back to haunt you. At times especially in the first-half we put some excellent moves together and enjoyed a good amount of possession. “The tie is far from over and we`ll go down to their place on Wednesday and give it our best shot.”
United made the early running and went close in their first attack but Mann shot against the legs of advancing goalkeeper Kyle Phillips after seizing onto Linden Dovey`s inch-perfect pass. However, the United striker went one better on 13 minutes by giving the home side the lead. A ball in from the left was brought down by Mann and in one movement he fired across Phillips into the bottom corner. Lance Smith sent a header wide for the hosts and at the other end Mitchell Page tried his luck from distance with a snap-shot that sailed just over. Before half-time a neat one-two between Mann and Smith gave the latter a clean run through on goal but United`s leading scorer snatched his shot and ballooned the ball high over the crossbar.
The opening stages of the second-half belonged to United with Nick Stanley fizzing a free-kick wide and then Smith got the better of Connor Roberts and brought a smart save out of the alert Phillips. Some frantic action in the Frome box ended with Paul Fahy going close after Phillips had again saved well from the lively Smith. But on 57 minutes Frome silenced the crowd when substitute Aiden Kirby set-up Jon Davies who shot beyond Sawyer from just inside the box.
This opened the game up with chances arriving at both ends. Sawyer saved a `grubber` from Davies at the second attempt and the same player curled a shot just past an upright from 25 yards. Mann headed across the face of goal for Williams to fire over before the game exploded resulting in Williams being shown a straight red for his altercation with Green on the halfway line. Last-ditch defending by the visitors denied United an injury-time winner with Nathan Summers throwing his body in the way of Leroy Odiero`s volley when the ball looked destined to find the back of the net.
UNITED:
Sawyer, Dovey, Stanley, Turley, Harding, Williams, Fahy, Sheehan (Magee 67), Smith, Mann (Odiero 89), Binns (Sloggett 78).
Subs not used: Sysum, Gilder
Referee: Mr P.Hardisty (Sedgley, Dudley)
Attendance: 235
