Evesham gave a good account of themselves especially in the second-half, but failed to become the first side to beat Hereford who extended their lead at the top of the Evo-Stik Southern South & West Division to 13 points ahead of second placed Tiverton Town at a packed Edgar Street.
The crowd of 4,406 was Hereford`s biggest of the season with 340 making the short journey from the Vale to support Paul Collicutt`s side.
Evesham conceded two soft goals in the first-half but responded with all guns blazing after half-time and deservedly pulled a goal back through Linden Dovey with 20 minutes to go. But despite hitting the Hereford woodwork and going close on a number of occasions, the Robins failed to find an equaliser their second-half efforts merited. Collicutt reflected afterwards, “If we play like that for the rest of the season we`ll give ourselves a good chance. We froze in the opening 45 minutes but came back to life in the second-half and caused Hereford problems. We moved the ball better and got into wide areas but ultimately two mistakes cost us and I was disappointed we didn`t perform for the whole 90 minutes.”
The champions-elect looked dangerous from the start with leading scorer John Mills blazing over from inside the six-yard box. But the pressure told on 15 minutes when the normally reliable Kevin Sawyer fumbled Jimmy Oates` shot and Mills capitalised on the mistake to prod home the loose ball. It became 2-0 in Hereford`s favour in the 35th minute, when a mis-placed pass in midfield found its way to Mike Symons who curled a delightful shot beyond Sawyer into the top corner.
Dovey scored after great run and shot
Evesham came out after the interval in determined mood with Garyn Preen who was ending his first month on-loan from Hungerford Town going close and Hereford stopper Alex Harris saving well to keep out top top marksman Lance Smith. Harris then had to pull off another crucial save to deny Adam Mann as Evesham continued to press.
Mann then saw his cross-shot rebound off the crossbar with Harris beaten before Dovey got Evesham back in the game on 70 minutes, motoring from the centre circle before firing past Harris with a wonderful shot to set-up a grandstand finish. Evesham went in search of an equaliser with Harris saving well from the hardworking Mann and Smith with his back to goal was unable to get a touch to divert Sawyer`s huge punt up field. Hereford were defending for their lives but survived to take the three points and keep their impressive unbeaten run going.
Goals here
UNITED:
Sawyer, Dovey, Stanley, Sheehan (Magee 77), Harding, Williams, Fahy (Binns 67), Brown, Smith, Mann, Preen (Kennedy 87).
Subs not used: Wellon, Bryan.
Referee: Mr Robbie Dadley (Bedworth)
Attendance: 4,406
