Evesham and Shortwood played out a goalless draw to leave the Robins facing an uphill task of finishing in the Evo-Stik Southern South & West play-offs. United`s inability to string together a run of victories may cost them a top five finish, unless there`s a change of fortunes for Paul Collicutt`s men between now and the end of the season.
Once again conditions didn`t allow for free flowing football and a gale force wind made it another poor spectacle for the Jubilee Stadium faithful. United welcomed back Ashley Williams and Lance Smith following unavailability and suspension respectively, but both had to make do with places on the substitutes bench. There was good news for the Red and Whites that popular goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer took his place between the sticks after rejecting an approach to join league rivals North Leigh.
Carl Brown went close
Shortwood who went into the game defending a nine-match unbeaten run, were under the cosh straight from the kick-off and were indebted to goalkeeper Tom King who made a fine full length save to push behind Adam Mann`s goalbound free-kick inside the opening two minutes. With the wind behind them, United continued to look the more likely to score but Carl Brown blew a couple of good opportunities for himself after finding space in the visitor`s box. Leading up to the interval King was in action saving low down from Mann and then safely gathered another free-kick from the same player.
Despite having the elements in their favour, an expected Shortwood onslaught in the second half never really materialised. Like United, they were guilty of over hitting passes and constantly giving the ball away. The best chance fell to the lively Marley Thomas but Sawyer showed his class by making an important save after the Shortwood winger bore down on goal. At the other end a good run by Linden Dovey ended with Nial Halford making a last-ditch block to deny Smith who was about to pull the trigger in the six-yard box. After this Shortwood replacement Matt Bennett curled a free-kick wide and Sawyer held Jake Lee`s header but that`s as good as it got with a draw always on the cards long before Mr Hardisty`s full-time whistle.
Photos by Stuart Purfield here
Evesham United:
Sawyer, Dovey, Green (Williams 62), Wood, Sysum, Wellon, Sloggett (Fishwick 75), Brown, Mann, Modest (Smith 51), Binns.
Sawyer, Dovey, Green (Williams 62), Wood, Sysum, Wellon, Sloggett (Fishwick 75), Brown, Mann, Modest (Smith 51), Binns.
Referee : Mr P.Hardisty (Dudley)
Attendance: 227
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