EVESHAM United continued their build-up to the start of the new season with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Stratford Town at the Jubilee Stadium.

It was another good work-out for the Robins following a decent display in a 7-3 loss to full-time Cheltenham Town two days earlier.

Stratford, who gained promotion to the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division last season via the play-offs while Evesham missed out, shocked the home crowd by taking the lead in their first attack when Dior Angus fired past Kevin Sawyer with barely 60 seconds on the clock.

Town continued to look the better side and the prolific Richard Gregory went close to doubling the lead but blazed over following good approach play by Robert Thompson-Brown down the right.

Slowly but surely, United began to put their game together and were rewarded on 27 minutes when the popular Marcus Jackson unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner beyond the diving Andy Kemp.

However, five minutes before half-time, Stratford regained the lead to go 2-1 up courtesy of a fine strike from the dangerous Thompson-Brown, who curled the ball in from just outside the penalty box.

Despite making eight substitutions in the second-half, United looked the better side and twice went close to levelling the contest through Ashley Edenborough and then Kevin Slack, who both struck the Stratford woodwork.

In the closing stages, Town substitute Edwin Ahenkorah created a couple of openings for himself but failed to add to the visitors' tally.

At the other end, the lively Edenborough fired several efforts across the face of goal without a team-mate on hand to apply the finishing touches for a deserved equaliser.

Evesham: Sawyer (Goddard 70), M Jackson (Washbourne 66), Wellon, Williams, Sysum, Dovey (Maguire 76), Brown (Wilson 45), Stanley (Wood 70), Lance Smith (Edenborough 45), Lee Smith (Slack 64), Green (Comfort 82). Substitute not used: A Jackson.

Attendance: 131.