In terms of numbers this game had everything-a crowd of almost 400, four goals, three red cards and two penalties, writes John Davis. Yet perhaps the most important statistic in the end was the three points gained and a double completed over rival promotion candidates who are also likely to feature in the end-of-season shake-down.
The visitors made a lightning start. Kane Simpson netted a Marley Thomas cross from close range to give them the lead after nine minutes and soon afterwards it should have been 2-0 when the same player somehow managed to lift the ball over the crossbar from a few yards out.
It was almost on the half hour mark before Yate fashioned any meaningful attempt on goal, Nick Peare flashing a long range shot just wide of the post. Peare though had only just started and he was to feature prominently as a largely dull first half was dramatically brought to life in the ten minutes before the break.
David Sims-Burgess equalised from the penalty spot after Peare had been brought down by a tackle on the line that resulted in Evesham defender Linden Dovey being shown a straight red card.
Minutes later, Peare was dismissed himself after a challenge on Evesham goalkeeper Andrew Hannah before the unflappable Sims-Burgess made it 2-1, again with a penalty, this time awarded after a blatant push on Mike Bryant.
A tense game of cat and mouse ensued at the beginning of the second half with Evesham looking the more dangerous attacking side as they brought Lewis Thomas into play.
The Yate goalkeeper did well to spot an Archie Haskayne ground shot as it came through a crowd of players and was even more alert soon afterwards when a Kane Simpson free kick was bent around the wall and appeared to be heading just inside the post.
The home side needed a further goal to settle it and it duly came on 69 minutes. Ollie Mehew held the ball up well after a counter-attack up the left and after swapping passes with an in-space Jack Twyman slotted in his ninth goal of the season.
Kai Fisher became the second Evesham player to be sent off after picking up a second yellow card with ten minutes left and then the winning margin might well have been increased as Mehew was denied by the legs of Hannah when he went through one-on-one and Adam Price curled a shot just wide of the upright after picking up a loose ball on the edge of the area.
Report Courtesy of Sebastian Parker at www.pitchero.com/clubs/yatetownfootballclub
