Downing double as Robins hit the spot (From Cotswold Journal)

Downing double as Robins hit the spot

1:10pm Saturday 18th August 2012 in Sport

TWO penalties converted by impressive midfielder Leigh Downing gave Evesham United a deserved 2-0 victory over Sutton Coldfield Town.

Matt Clarke’s side went unbeaten in eight pre-season friendlies after the success over Evo-Stik Northern League South opposition at the Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium.

Both sides had penalty appeals turned down before Sutton’s Scott Rickards struck a post after rounding keeper Dean Coleman on the half-hour mark.

A period of pressure ended with Evesham taking the lead nine minutes before half-time as Matt Jackson handled Luke Corbett’s shot in the box and Downing easily converted from the spot.

Simeon Tulloch drew applause before the break when beating four defenders on a mazy run and dragging his shot inches wide.

United were awarded a second penalty early after the restart when Roland Agbor was pulled down inside the area and Downing sent keeper Paul Hathaway the wrong way from 12 yards.

Evesham dominated the rest of the game with Corbett twice and Agbor forcing Hathaway to make excellent saves.

Then Jamie Hyde fired across the face of goal with no Evesham player on hand to force the ball home.

Evesham: Coleman (Obiaumbi 80), Wilson (Williams 64), Hyde, Rhodes (Eze 64), Robinson (Hutchison 80), Warmer, Downing (MacKenzie 64), Gwynne (Connor 64), Corbett, Agbor (Jones 80), Palmer (Tulloch 30).

Attendance: 90.

• Evesham’s final warm-up game ahead of Saturday’s opener with Sholing ended in a 10-0 beating of their youth team.

Corbett led the way with a second-half hat-trick with Agbor (2), Downing (2), Neil MacKenzie, Nathan Hicks and Henry Eze also getting on the scoresheet.