Edited report from the Yate Town website
This game had all the makings of being a classic and it didn’t disappoint with both sides giving everything. This was a great spectacle with a cracking atmosphere and a fantastic advert for football at this level.
It was hardworking performance from every one of the Yate players especially Harvey Rivers (Man of the Match) against combative opponents and the goal-frame at the Lodge Road end particularly was a willing ally as it picked up a number of welcome muddy stains during the second half.
Evesham attacked from the off with plenty of movement from midfield. Adam Mann headed wide from a good position and Rivers made a strong double save from first Matt Liddiard and then Archie Haskayne.
It was Yate though, always dangerous on the break, who took the lead in the 18th minute. Mayson Evans, supplied by Trey Anderson, made a surging run down the right and when he picked out Ben Brooks the club’s leading scorer sent his shot into the top corner.
Rivers was then busy again saving from Mann and Liddiard before the lead was extended as Evesham goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer could only parry a shot from Steve Davies and Ross Langworthy hammered in the rebound for his first goal since joining the club.
As Evesham hit back, Rivers had to be alert to prevent Matt Bennett squeezing the ball in on the far post and before the break a cross from Lindon Dovey rolled along the top of the crossbar before being finally hacked clear.
The visitors did get a foothold in the game six minutes after the re-start as Bennett, unmarked, nodded the ball in from close range following a corner on the right from Mann.
With Evesham throwing men forward at every chance, Lewis Binns grazed the outside of the post following a run down the left, Rivers turned an effort from substitute Aysa Corrick onto the crossbar and away and Mann struck the upright with a blast from just inside the box. More was to follow as Rivers blocked a shot from Liddiard and Bennett was foiled by the woodwork again following another dangerous corner.
Yate were restricted to quick counter-attacks especially up the right and the nearest they came to getting a third goal was when a drive from Davies was only partly saved by Sawyer and Brooks was injured trying to force the ball home as it trickled goal-wards near the post.
So Evesham lost a game they deserved more from and now it is on to an away game at Barnstaple this Saturday.
Evesham United: Sawyer, Dovey, Bennett, Turley (Hancock 75), Lewis, Liddiard, Bryan (Francis 70), Haskayne, Powell (Corrick 46), Mann, Binns
Sub not used: Dunbar, Brown
Attendance: 283
Evesham United: Sawyer, Dovey, Bennett, Turley (Hancock 75), Lewis, Liddiard, Bryan (Francis 70), Haskayne, Powell (Corrick 46), Mann, Binns
Sub not used: Dunbar, Brown
Attendance: 283
