The Robins showed their intent right from the first whistle, when a Jordan Bryan shot was easily saved by Pryce in the Winchester goal in the first minute. This was quickly followed up by Adam Mann whose long-range shot went just wide of the post. It was then the turn ‘The Robins’ goal machine Matt Liddiard, he got on the end of a well taken Garyn Preen corner but sadly his shot sailed over the bar.
With all of the early pressure coming from the home side, the visitors managed to keep the ball out of their net in the 14th minute when neither Bryan or Mann were able to make a good contact on the ball in a crowded box.
Winchester had a massive penalty shout but the well-placed referee decided that Liddiard’s interception was perfectly fair. The visitors finally came to life halfway through the first half when Rob Carr’s shot had beaten Kevin Sawyer only to hit the post, in what was the best chance of the first 45 minutes. Neither side created any further chances in what ended up a fairly level first half.
Mann’s 17th of season
As the second half got underway Winchester’s Oli Bailey squandered an early opportunity putting his shot wide. That was a wake up call and Evesham then went back to the passing game that had served them well for long periods of the first half. They got their reward in the 54th minute when Joe Turley played the ball out of midfield finding Matt Bennett who was wide left, his cross ball into the box found Mann whose outstretched foot was able to steer the ball into the back of the net.
It was then the turn of Lewis Powell who turned in the Winchester box, only to see his shot go just wide of the post, Evesham kept pressing and defender Andy Lewis found himself in the visitor’s box, his shot was smothered by Pryce.
In the remainder of the game Winchester did create a couple of half chances without being able to finish, they did look dangerous at times just lacking the final ball. This was probably down to a solid back four, a clean sheet meant the points were Evesham’s in a valuable victory over a fellow play-off contender.
At the final whistle players and fans alike came together to give Paul Fahy an emotional send off as he heads off to Finland to start the next chapter of his life, hopefully they will be able to keep up with Paul’s career as a Finnish footballer.
Photos by Stuart Purfield here
Evesham Utd: Sawyer, Lewis (Hancock 85), Bennett, Turley, Wellon, Liddiard, Bryan (Fahy 23), A Williams, Powell (Mehew 77), Mann, Preen. Subs not used: Brown, Ebbutt
Attendance: 214
