United manager Paul Collicutt had asked the Evesham United players to recreate some of their past glories in a bid to pull themselves back into the promotion battle, in their final game before Christmas and they duly delivered, bringing something to warm the hearts of their faithful fans as the festive season began.
Right from the first whistle the home side set about showing they meant business, creating several half chances in the opening minutes, with their opponents only touching the ball when the Robins made a poor pass. The visitors looked to have set their stall out very early on and their prime objective seemed like they had come to the ‘The Jubilee’ to try and not concede. to be fair Evesham were limited to a series of long range shots, despite their dominance in possession, that was until the 24th minute when a Nick Rhodes header hit the bar. The remainder of the first half saw Evesham continuing to create several more half chances but, nothing that would be able to unlock a resolute Larkhall defence.
The second half started exactly the same as the first, and it was pretty obvious that only one team were going to win the game, providing they could breach Larkhall’s rear guard who looked as though they would be happy with an away point.
“Lids” scored with a penalty
The opportunities kept coming for Evesham, a Mann free kicked headed by Bennett just skimmed the bar in the 48th minute, just a few moments later the ball was fizzing from left to right and back again across the visitor’s goal but, nobody in red and white stripes was able to finish it. With the home sides hold on the game getting ever tighter, it seemed like it was only going to be a matter of time until the visitors defence would be beaten. In the 57th minute Adam Mann made one of his trademark runs into Larkhall’s box, only to be brought down and Evesham were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Matt Liddiard who placed his shot wide of Semmens in the Larkhall goal, much to the relief and delight of the home fans.
Powell add a second
Their joy was doubled in the 71st minute when a great passage of team play and a superb passing movement between Binns, Bryan & Powell was rewarded with a Lewis Powell goal, his shot into the bottom left gave the visitors keeper no chance.
The score line may have been even better when Evesham new boy Aysa Corrick looked like he was going to make a dream debut, but sadly his shot was turned around the post in injury time.
Three points at home for the Robins, something that has been rare of late. But with a performance like this and Evesham have every reason to be optimistic of hauling themselves back into play off contention.
Evesham Utd: Sawyer, Dovey, Bennett, Turley, Rhodes, Liddiard, Bryan (Brown 78), Haskayne (Hancock 72), Powell, Mann (Corrick 78), Binns.
Subs not used: A Williams, Odiero.
Attendance: 232
