ANY hopes Evesham United had of repeating last season’s FA Cup heroics disappeared at the first hurdle when Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One South outfit Chasetown defeated Evesham United 2-0 in the preliminary round at Church Road.

United reached the fourth qualifying round last season but two late goals settled the tie after goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer had saved an early penalty.

An uneventful game suddenly came to life after 18 minutes when Chasetown won a penalty when Lewis Rankin was sent tumbling inside the box by Linden Dovey.

However, Evesham keeper Sawyer showed his class with a one-handed save to keep out Paul Sullivan’s spot-kick.

The Evesham custodian produced another wonder save before half-time, denying Sullivan when the Chasetown striker looked certain to fire the hosts into an interval advantage.

Adam Mann tested former Evesham keeper John Bateman with a few shots on target in the second-half and Nick Stanley did likewise with a low drive to the keeper’s right.

However, Chasetown broke the deadlock after 77 minutes when their two substitutes combined.

Lee Butler made ground down the right before finding Nathan Waite, whose header nestled into the corner of Sawyer’s net.

Bateman prevented Dovey from equalising with a smart save to put over the defender’s well-struck drive.

As the game entered injury-time, Chasetown put the tie to bed with a crucial second goal.

Richard Davies waltzed through the United defence before beating Sawyer and, in doing so, ended Evesham’s hopes of another money-spinning run in the competition.

Evesham: Sawyer, McGrory, Wellon, Williams, Sysum, Dovey, Washbourne (Jackson 66), Wood, Smith (Slack 36), Mann, Green (Stanley 59). Subs not used: Harding, Brown.

Attendance: 168.