IRATE boss Paul Collicutt suggested Evesham United had carried “four or five” players in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Swindon Supermarine – but shouldered some blame himself.

The Robins trailed by two at the end of a first half spent battling against the elements with Supermarine defending well in the face of adversity after the interval.

The hosts created chances from the off and soon led when Michael Hopkins picked out Joe Selman to take a touch and fire past keeper Kevin Sawyer at the far post with less than six minutes played.

Lee Marshall’s 30-yard attempt at finding an open net strayed off target but Supermarine bagged a warranted second a minute before half-time.
Selman turned provider, intercepting a pass before pulling back for Hooper to steer in from eight yards. 

With the wind at their backs, Evesham made more headway in the second half but found their hosts in uncompromising mood. 

Adam Mann’s free-kick and Mat Liddiard’s off-target effort were as close as the Robins came for all of their pressure as they left Wiltshire empty handed.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you have been involved in the game, you still learn lessons and I certainly did on Saturday,” said Collicutt. 

“I could take on the chin the defeat to Salisbury seven days before that because the lads put in a good shift. Circumstances dictated it was not to be that day.

“This time, I was bitterly disappointed with the way we got beaten by a team that is up there with us in a very tight battle for the play-offs.

“The goals we conceded were not particularly good. The pitch was difficult but we have played on a lot worse and as the old cliché says, it was the same for both sides.

“We found it very hard to get out of our half or clear the ball in the first half. We had a couple of chances but overall, it was a tough to swallow.

“You can normally carry two or three players, when it is more like four or five you give yourselves too much to do. 

“I could not say anyone came out with a great deal of praise and I include myself in that.

“You can make excuses about having players missing but they had lads out too. You just have to get on with it.” 

But Collicutt insisted there would be no time for despondency with another big gun, Winchester City, heading to the Jubilee Stadium on Saturday (3pm). 

“We have to look to put this behind us, rally the troops and be as positive as we can,” he added.

“We have eight games left and 24 points to play for. That's an awful lot. 

“With the gaps as they are in the league table there are still so many possibilities and we have to be ready to take every chance that comes our way. 

“I keep saying how tight it is but we are looking at teams as low as 13th still being in the play-off race. Every point counts and we know we have to be right at it.” 

Robins: Sawyer, Lewis, Wellon, Turley, Williams, Liddiard, Ebbutt, Hancock, Brown (Fahy, 65), Mann, Preen (Dunbar, 80). Unused subs: Bennett, Bryan. 

Attendance: 189.