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New arrival makes for a dramatic weekend

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Evesham United player coach Neil Mackenzie writes for the Observer

I WRITE these notes having missed the game on Saturday due to my wife Sarah giving birth to our second baby daughter - Belle Louisa Mackenzie - so while the lads were fast asleep preparing for our FA Trophy tie away at Stamford I was encouraging the Mrs to push harder at 5am!!!

The reports back from the gaffer are that we had most of the possession in the game but failed to create any clearcut chances and Stamford won 1-0 in what by all accounts sounded a scrappy game, which now means we are out of both major cup competitions.

Although we had two very tough games in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy, it is a blow nevertheless to be out of the two.

I know the manager is actively seeking to add to our firepower, as we are well aware that we are playing very well as a team up until the final third of the pitch - the business end - and then at times already this season we seem to be missing that 'presence' down the middle of the pitch that we feel will add greatly to the team.

Luke Corbett, who joined the club during pre-season, has now departed and joined Halesowen Town, which leaves us short of strikers with only Marcus Palmer as a recognised centre forward.

I believe that any team that gets promoted or wins leagues has to have at least two main strikers who are scoring goals regularly, with at least one or ideally two as back-up, so we need to strengthen in this area for sure and the manager knows this.

We now get back to league action with a trip to Paulton Rovers on Saturday, followed by what is shaping up to be a crucial game even this early in the season the week after at home to the current leaders and title favourites Poole Town.

If we can get a good result on Saturday, then it sets us up nicely for what could be a top of the table clash and a great chance to really make our mark.

From a personal point of view it will be great to get back involved having missed a couple of training sessions and obviously the game on Saturday and, with Derek (Roland Agbor) our flying winger back from suspension in two games, we will have everyone fit and ready to push on in the league and put our cup disappointments behind us.

Up the Robins

Mac

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