EVESHAM United continue their pre-season preparations with a visit to Bishop’s Cleeve this evening (Friday) on the back of Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at home to National League South outfit Bath City.
The Robins, for whom keeper Harvey Rivers served notice of his talents with a series of impressive saves, played some useful football against their higher ranked visitors but two second half goals secured an ultimately deserved victory for Bath.
Among those to feature for Evesham was new forward Sean Brain having joined his hometown club.
Brain, who was on the books of Crewe Alexandra and Cheltenham Town as a youngster, is the 22-year-old nephew of former Cheltenham, Evesham and Hereford United striker Simon Brain and has played for Stratford Town, Pershore Town, Rugby Town and Bromsgrove Sporting.
Tuesday’s friendly followed Saturday’s Worcestershire Senior Cup semi-final defeat – 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw – to Redditch United at the Jubilee.
A goal from a trialist put Redditch ahead in the 56th minute of an entertaining game but Evesham were soon level when winger Cory Simpson – a summer recruit from Bristol Manor Farm – netted following an excellent pass from Joe Turley.
There were no further goals and the match went to spot-kicks, all of which were scored in the regulation shoot-out by sides, with Turley, Tyrone Tucker-Dixon, Ashley Williams, Archie Haskayne and Marley Thomas netting for the hosts.
However, midfielder Carl Brown then fired over, allowing Tom Fishwick to convert the 12th penalty of the shoot-out to seal Redditch’s progress into last night’s (Thursday) final against Alvechurch at the Jubilee.
Tucker-Dixon and Will Tunnicliff have both joined United from Gloucester City on dual registration forms. Tunnicliff is a left-back who has previously appeared in the Southern League for Bishop’s Cleeve and Cirencester Town. Winger Tucker-Dixon is a former Bristol Rovers academy player who has also been on the books of Paulton Rovers.
Also on board at Evesham is former Shortwood and Cinderford player Nick Humphreys following a pre-season with Gloucester City, whilst former Forest Green Rovers, Gloucester City and Cirencester Town forward Steve Davies is another new recruit for Paul Collicutt’s side.
The ex-Hartpury student has also played for Mangotsfield United and Yate Town and can play up front or out wide.
Rivers, Nathan Summers, Shayne Anson, Joe Tumelty and Thomas had all previously joined the new-look Robins this summer ahead of the Southern League Division One South campaign.
