The classy Adam Mann was Evesham`s match winner in the rural surrounds of the Eynsham Hall Park Sports Ground to extend the Robins` unbeaten run to nine games in the Evo-Stik South & West Division. The former Gloucester City striker who will remain at the Jubilee Stadium until the end of next season, struck the decisive goal early in the first half with his 11th of the campaign to take Paul Collicutt`s side within touching distance of cementing a place in the play-offs.
North Leigh who themselves are still in with a shout of making the play-offs, had only lost three times on home soil this season and included former Oxford United players Jamie Cook and Callum McNish in their expensively assembled line-up. United were without captain Matt Sysum who was starting a three match ban but welcomed back Will Wellon on the bench who had been absent for a month with a hamstring injury.
Adam Mann scored his 11th of season
North Leigh began the game with the strong wind and slope in their favour but it was Evesham playing against the elements who got their noses in front on 16 minutes. After winning a succession of corners, a Lee Smith flag-kick on the left was only cleared as far as the unmarked Mann who fired home a superb volley past the dispairing dive of Matt Bulman into the top corner. Despite Sysum`s absence, North Leigh`s powerful strike force of Cook and McNish posed little threat with Linden Dovey and Liam Harding outstanding at the heart of United`s defence. Evesham edged the rest of the first half with Ashley Edenborough and Mann both forcing decent saves out of keeper Bulman and then Jared Wilson and the lively Smith drilling efforts wide of the target as the Red and Whites continued to look bright and breezy.
United showed the greater level of control after half-time, resulting in Mann firing into the side netting and then Marcus Jackson blazing over with a clear sight at goal. With the game drawing to a close, the Millers` finally upped the tempo in search of an equaliser and their only clearcut chance arrived in the last minute when Jacob Hughes` fierce drive was brilliantly pushed around a post by Robins` number one Kevin Sawyer to keep United`s lead intact. Before the final whistle, there was still time for Lance Smith to go close for United but after racing clear he pulled his shot wide of an upright with Bulman beaten.
EVESHAM UNITED: Sawyer, Brown (Washbourne 82), Stanley, Harding, Slack (Wood 75), Dovey, Jackson, Wilson, Edenborough, Mann (Lance Smith 70), Lee Smith.
Sub not used: Wellon
REFEREE: Mr D.Leach (Witney)
ATTENDANCE: 114
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