Evesham were easily brushed aside by neighbours Stratford Town in their pre-season friendly on Saturday. Premier Division Stratford were fitter and sharper and romped into a 7-0 lead early in the second half with a double-figure victory looking on the cards. Thankfully the visitors took their foot off the gas after half-time allowing United to score three times to give the scoreline some respectability. Striker Richard Gregory netted four goals for Town and former Evesham player Simeon Tulloch helped himself to a brace in a one-sided contest at the Jubilee Stadium.
United who were down to the bare bones through injury and unavailability were a shambles in the first half and had it not been for the heroics of goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer the score would have been more by half-time. The impressive Sawyer was called into early action making good stops to keep out Kieren Westwood and Jamie Sheldon but the prolific Gregory fired Stratford in front on 12 minutes converting Sheldon`s right-wing cross. Barry Fitzharris and Dior Angus both tested the busy Sawyer before Angus made it 2-0 sweeping home beyond Sawyer on the half-hour.
It was soon 3-0 with Tulloch clinically finding the net on 34 minutes. Two more goals then followed in quick succession to hand Stratford a commanding 5-0 lead at the break. Tulloch used his pace to score a fourth and then a quickly-taken free-kick found the unmarked Gregory who easily made it five in stoppage-time.
It got worse for the Red and Whites soon after the re-start when Gregory completed his hat-trick for 6-0 after substitute keeper Sam Gilder had pulled off a fine save to keep out Will Grocutt. Goal number seven arrived in the 55th minute as Gregory curled in a delightful shot past the diving Gilder for his 4th goal of the game. Two goals in a minute then gave the stunned home supporters something to shout about. Captain Matt Sysum cleverly volleyed home Elliot Kennedy`s corner and straight from the kick-off Adam Mann got on the end of a through ball and beat Town keeper Niall Cooper with a well struck drive. Sysum sent a header just wide before Gilder`s huge clearance on 69 minutes found Mann who superbly slotted in past the advancing Cooper for 7-3. United were now looking the better side and before the end Sysum struck the crossbar and had a goal disallowed while Cooper had to be on his toes to make decent saves from Lorcan Sheehan and Lewis Binns.
UNITED:
Sawyer (Gilder 45), Dovey, Green (Williams 45), Turley (Maltisene 83), Burns (Sysum 45), Wellon (Penfold 83), Kennedy, Sheehan, Mann, Pearson (Bryan 45), Binns.
REFEREE: Mr S.Wales (Tewkesbury)
ATTENDANCE: 161
