Two goals by Luke Benbow denied Evesham victory in their penultimate
pre-season friendly on Saturday.
Lance Smith had earlier given United the lead just past the hour mark, only for the experienced Benbow to strike twice late-on to hand the Glassboys victory at the Jubilee Stadium.
United were without a long list of absentees but were able to name
Brad Williams in midfield who spent last season with National League
South, Bath City.
The first half was mostly uneventful with goalmouth action and clearcut
chances few and far between.
Stourbridge however, did threaten approaching half-time when Kevin
Sawyer tipped over Jack Duggan`s header and then Joe Hull flashed a
header across the face of goal following skipper Tom Tonks` free-kick.
The tempo of the game increased after the interval with Sawyer prod-
ucing a brilliant save to keep out the speedy Chris Lait who had got
clean through on goal.
Nick Stanley replied for the Robins flashing a drive inches wide and then
a combination of Hull and goalkeeper Matthew Gould snuffed out the
danger after Smith had shown good skills to create an opening for him-
self on the edge of the box.
But it was the hardworking Smith who edged United in front on 64
minutes, latching onto Paul Fahy`s flick-on before beating Gould with
a shot that squirmed out of the keeper`s grasp and rolled into an empty net.
Higher-graded Stourbridge responded to Gould`s error by equalising
in the 73rd minute, courtesy of Benbow`s close-range header after
Lewis Probert`s thunderous drive had come back off the crossbar.
Probert was then guilty of a glaring miss at the back post before Benbow
found the target for a second time to win the game with two minutes
to go.
Jack Heath`s free-kick into the box was headed down by Duggan to
the unmarked Benbow who coolly rounded Sawyer before finding the
net.
UNITED:
Sawyer, Dovey, Stanley, Turley, Sysum (Pearson 50), Sheehan, Kennedy,
Williams (Brown 45), Smith (Gilder 79), Fahy, Binns (Prictor 64).
REFEREE: Mr S.Oakey (Cheltenham) ATTENDANCE: 147
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