Evesham need one more win from the remaining three Evo-Stik Southern South & West Division fixtures to rubber stamp a play-off place after seeing off nearest challengers Mangotsfield United 1-0 at a baking hot Jubilee Stadium.
However the win came at a cost with Liam Harding who has been outstanding at the heart of the Robins defence this season, suffering a broken leg ten minutes from time to become the latest in a long list of United casualties. It was a devastating blow for the player and boss Paul Collicutt who has been without Joe Turley and Sam Pearson for most of the season with Bradley Gray and top scorer Lance Smith fighting to be involved again this season.
Collicutt showed mixed emotions after the game saying, ” The lads did what I asked them to do and that was to win a game of football. It`s all about results but I have to say the performance was pretty decent and we created a bucket load of chances. Statistics show we dominated the game and I can`t argue with that.”
Harding broke leg in match
The downside was losing Liam Harding who has been immense at the back for us and I feel for him because the circumstances that led to the injury should have been prevented. I am gutted for the lad who is very popular with the players and supporters and we send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery.”
“The squad has been tested all season with the number of long-term injuries but we`ve managed to keep going which speaks volumes for the strength and depth we have in the squad.”
With so much at stake for both sides the first-half was more facinating than enthralling with United bossing possession but unable to kill the game off. The Robins looked up for the challenge from the start and scored the winning goal in the 11th minute, with a quick break by Paul Fahy resulting in Jordan Bryan ghosting through the Mango`s defence and steering the ball past Steve Phillips. United looked dangerous at set-pieces and almost added a second before half-time but Harding`s header crashed against the crossbar before being cleared.
United struck the woodwork again in the second-half through the impressive Matt Williams whose powerful header came back off the bar with Phillips beaten. Good work by Fahy down the left ended with Phillips making a fine save to keep out Adam Mann, whilst Ashley Williams glanced a header wide. But then with Mann grounded with a head injury, referee Mr Dadley refused to stop play which led to Harding`s horrific injury when the game should have been halted at the opposite end. Following Harding`s departure, Mangotsfield enjoyed a brief spell of pressure with Matt Groves forcing a save out of Kevin Sawyer and Tom Warren prodding wide at the back stick.
But in the end Bryan`s second goal of the season proved decisive to claim a sixth league double with United heading to Bideford on Saturday knowing a win would guarantee a place in the play-offs for a second time in three seasons.
Pictures here by Stuart Purfield.
UNITED:
Sawyer, Dovey, M.Williams, Haskayne, Harding (Magee 80), A.Williams, Preen (Sheehan 89), Bryan, Fahy, Mann, Stanley (Binns 72).
Subs not used: Gilder, Brown
Referee: Mr R.Dadley (Bedworth)
Attendance: 282
