Football
Evesham show spirit to claim vital win

EVESHAM United returned to winning ways with an exciting 3-2 home victory over Clevedon Town in Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South & West on Tuesday.

It was a welcome three points for boss Matt Clarke who had seen his go three matches without a victory in all competitions following maximum points in their opening two fixtures.

However, the Robins had to do things the hard way as they twice came from behind against their Somerset visitors.

Clarke made sweeping changes to the line-up that had slipped to a woeful 1-0 loss at Abingdon United on Saturday but the fresh faces were kept waiting for their chance to impress as a floodlight failure delayed the kick-off by 20 minutes.

The Seasiders took a 12th minute lead when Giani Kapika's shot struck Jamie Hyde on the arm in the penalty area and former Bristol City midfielder Scott Murray converted from 12 yards.

The hosts rallied and Henry Eze's header struck the woodwork before Marcus Palmer drilled in Leigh Downing's corner at the back post to make it 1-1 on the half hour.

However, it was the visitors who held an interval lead through Adam Mahdi's explosive finish nine minutes before the break.

United began the second half on the front foot and equalised ten minutes after the restart when Palmer played in Downing who kept his cool before slotting home past advancing keeper Lee Matthews.

Evesham sensed victory and forced Clevedon to defend in numbers and their efforts were rewarded when striker Palmer bagged his third goal of the season by lashing the ball home following a goalmouth scramble.

Nathan Hicks and substitute Luke Corbett were both within a whisker of increasing the lead before the end as the Robins finished the game well on top.

Saturday did not go well for the Robins as they were beaten 1-0 at Abingdon through a Luke Carnell goal in the 48th minute when he got on the end of Ben Whitehead's free kick to plant a header inside the far post.

Evesham never got going in the match but with 18 minutes remaining were handed a golden chance to grab a share of the spoils when Palmer had his heels clipped in the box by Damien Crudup, who was subsequently sent off.

However, Downing's poor penalty was easily saved by debutant keeper Rob Durrant and the home stopper then prevented Palmer from equalising with a fine reflex save.

To cap a miserable afternoon for the Robins, Roland Agbor became the second player to be dismissed when he was shown a straight red card for dangerous play in injury time.

United sit sixth in the table with ten points from five games and resume their league campaign at Paulton Rovers on September 22.

Their next match is the FA Trophy preliminary round tie at Stamford on September 15.

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