Football
Robins kick-off at home to Sholing

EVESHAM United will begin the new Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South & West season with a home fixture against Sholing on Saturday, August 18.

The Robins will then travel to Yate Town on Tuesday, August 21 before welcoming Merthyr Town to the Jubilee Stadium on Monday, August 27.

Other dates in the fixture list include a Boxing Day match at home to Bishops Cleeve and a New Year's Day trip to Merthyr.

The season finishes with a visit to Taunton Town on Saturday, April 27.

There was drama on Tuesday when the Robins' latest pre-season friendly at home to Hereford United was abandoned in the 65th minute when Bulls players Chris Carruthers and Greg Tindle suffered a nasty clash of heads.

After lengthy treatment on the pitch both players were escorted to the changing rooms before being taken to Worcester Hospital for treatment.

It was a disappointing conclusion for the 286 spectators who had seen Evesham more than match their Blue Square Bet Premier opponents.

Dan Hanford in the Hereford goal saved well from Neil MacKenzie's free kick and at the other end Sean Canham forced a decent save out of Evesham keeper Nick Thomas.

At the start of the second half Hanford made a good block to keep out an effort from Marcus Palmer, who rejoined United earlier this month from Stourbridge, before Hereford substitute Marley Watkins showed a good turn of pace only to drive wide of the target.

On Saturday the Robins' first match at their new home ended in a 3-0 loss to Blue Square Bet Premier's Newport County in front of 366 fans.

The victory saw Newport lift the Carl Lewis Memorial Trophy, which was played for in memory of the lifelong Exiles supporter who had family in both Evesham and Newport.

MacKenzie saw a free kick well pushed wide by Newport keeper Joe Perry before the visitors took the lead on 28 minutes when Lee Minshull delivered a low cross from the right which was converted by Jake Harris.

Palmer and Jason Wellings created half chances for the Robins before last season's FA Trophy finalists extended their lead just before the hour mark when Andy Sandell netted with a terrific free kick after Kerry Morgan had been fouled 25 yards out.

Newport took advantage of an experimental Evesham side in the second half and scored a third on 72 minutes when experienced substitute Jefferson Louis fired powerfully past youth team keeper Aaron Thomasson.

Evesham came close to a consolation when Henry Eze headed Lee Osborne's free kick just wide at the back post.

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