Evesham suffered the embarrassment of having the Evo-Stik Southern South & West Division fixture with Swindon Supermarine abandoned after 54 minutes because of floodlight failure. United were leading 2-1 at the time with goals by Elliot Kennedy and Adam Mann but after the lights went out for a second time soon after half-time, referee Jack Shepherd wasted no time in calling the contest off. Frustratingly the fault was fixed immediately after the players had returned to the dressing rooms but Mr Shepherd stuck by his decision to the disappointment of the 228 spectators who braved the bitterly cold conditions at the Jubilee Stadium.
United opened the scoring in the 20th minute through Kennedy`s thunderbolt strike that rattled in off the underside of the crossbar. Marine, however, hit back to equalise seven minutes later with Connor Thompson firing beyond Kevin Sawyer from 12 yards. United went on to regain the lead with the impressive Kennedy supplying the cross that Mann stabbed home from close range. Just before the interval, the lights went out for a first time but play continued to the half-time whistle.
By the start of the second-half everything was back working but after just nine minutes the lights failed again and Mr Shepherd surprisingly brought the match to a premature end. United boss Paul Collicutt was left frustrated by the decision and said, “The most disappointing thing for me was that the referee did not consult anybody before making his decision. I thought the whole situation was very strange and I feel the referee was out of his depth if I am honest.
He added, “It was an enjoyable, entertaining game and what happened was disappointing for everyone. There was an assessor here, but all he said to me was `no comment` and it was a frustrating day.”
Pictures from Stuart Purfield here
UNITED
Sawyer, Bryan, Stanley, Haskayne, Harding, Williams, Gray, Sheehan, Smith, Mann, Kennedy.
Subs: Odiero, Gilder, Sloggett, Brown, Magee
Referee: Mr P.Shepherd (Dudley)
Attendance: 228
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