BOSS Paul Collicutt insisted Evesham United had been “the better side” before the 20-minute fightback from three down to win 4-3 at Wimborne Town.

The Robins regained momentum in their push for promotion with a rousing finale against a play-off rival at Cuthbury on Saturday.

But far from suggesting a big turnaround after three substitutions in five second-half minutes, Collicutt was adamant his charges had performed well throughout their trip to Dorset.

Rival manager Matty Holmes described as “a bitter pill to swallow” the recovery which left the sides tied on 39 points in the Southern League West top six.

“It was very difficult to explain how we were losing 3-0 having been the better side,” said Collicutt.

“We went in 2-0 down at half-time through two unfortunate mistakes. We were left wracking our brains to be honest because the lads had been playing really well.

“Their keeper picked up man of the match having pulled off four top saves. All we could do was encourage them to carry on and trust that our luck would turn.

"Then we conceded a penalty but with 20 minutes to go, we got one back and just carried it on.

“We were celebrating after getting the second and third but then Manny (Adam Mann) popped up with a free-kick which he hit sweet as a nut. Everybody was over the moon.

“The lads put in a really big performance in what was a very eventful game and the sort the lads and supporters will talk about for a long time to come. All in all it was a good day.

“When you get a result like that, it makes a lot of things worthwhile and puts right a lot of wrongs.

“It was a really good advert for non-league football, our standard especially, and in the bigger picture we have beaten a team that is up there."

As pleased as Collicutt was with the yield and the manner in which it was achieved, he was adamant it would mean “absolutely nothing” if Evesham fail to build on that with three home matches in eight days.

That run kicks off at home to Paulton Rovers on Saturday (3pm) with fellow promotion hunters Swindon Supermarine visiting the Jubilee on Wednesday (7.45) and Slimbridge on Saturday, January 20 (3pm).

“As comebacks go, it was up there with the best and no one can knock that," he added.

Two or three lads have text to say how high they still feel after Saturday but it means absolutely nothing without a positive result on Saturday.

“Looking at our away form, we have won at Bristol Manor Farm, drawn at Salisbury, won at Bideford and now at Wimborne.

“It is so tight at the top so these three points should give everybody at the club a big lift.

“The home form is a bug bear for me. We have a lovely stadium, pitch and facilities with good support so we have to be more consistent at the Jubilee.

“Don’t ask me why but we seem to play with more freedom on the road. If we can reproduce that at home, the lift will be felt by all.”

It will be a busy period for the club’s playing surface with the youth team hosting their Lydney Town counterparts in the Midland Floodlit Youth League on Monday (7.45).