EVESHAM United will be aiming to bounce back from their first home defeat of the Southern League Division One South season when they head to lowly AFC Totton on Saturday.
The Robins, who then face another away day when they head to Devon to face struggling Bideford on Tuesday, were beaten 4-2 by Thatcham Town at the Jubilee on Saturday on a day to forget for Carl Abbott’s side.
It was a disappointing outcome for United who dropped a place to fifth and now trail second-placed Thatcham by eight points having played a game more.
Evesham also suffered the blow of seeing Lee Chilton red-carded late on for an off the ball incident.
The damage was done inside the opening quarter of the game as goals from Kyle Tooze, George Jeacock and Felipe Barcelos left the home side shellshocked.
Paul Sullivan reduced the arrears on 36 minutes when he guided the ball into the net from Chilton’s corner and it was almost 3-2 just before the break but Matt Dodd could only fire straight at the keeper.
Evesham continued to press in the second half and Jack Cresswell and Brad Maslen-Jones fired just wide before Chilton was dismissed 14 minutes from time.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Evesham’s Adam Page forced a mistake which resulted in Thatcham scoring an own goal on 80 minutes but the outcome was put beyond doubt when Tooze thumped a right-footed strike home to make it 4-2.
Meanwhile, the Robins have swooped to sign defender Jordan Staten from Southern Premier Central strugglers Redditch United.
The former England Schoolboy international won the manager’s and players’ player of the season awards at Kayte Lane in 2018/19 and began his career in the youth set-up at Burton Albion before joining Cheltenham Town at the age of 14.
The former Bishops Cleeve player was a substitute on Saturday.
