Debut delight for hot-shot Hughes (From Cotswold Journal)

Debut delight for hot-shot Hughes

11:20am Thursday 11th October 2012 in Sport

EVESHAM United returned to winning ways in Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West with a convincing 3-1 win at second-in-thetable Cirencester Town.

The Robins dominated from start to finish, playing some of their best football of the season, and scored through Marcus Palmer, Leigh Downing and new signing Liam Hughes.

Striker Hughes was making his debut following a switch from Black Country Rangers, for whom he had already bagged 20 goals in the West Midland League Premier Division this term.

Manager Matt Clarke, whose side travel to Mangotsfield United on Saturday (3pm), said: “It was thoroughly deserved and it was a good performance. Hopefully we can kick on and get some more points on the board.”

Cirencester enjoyed their best spell during the opening exchanges without testing Dean Coleman in the United goal.

His opposite number Matt Bath, however, was kept busy and was forced into saves from Gavin Hurren, Neil Mackenzie and Roland Agbor.

The Robins, though finally got their noses in front with just a minute to go before the half-time break. Lee Osborne got down the left before having his cross pushed away by Bath into the path of leading scorer Palmer who prodded in his seventh goal of the season.

Despite having all the play in the second-half, United had to wait until 15 minutes from time before increasing their lead.

Bath got in a block to deny Palmer only for the ball to fall kindly to Hughes who followed up to lash the ball home.

Seven minutes later, substitute Downing got on the scoresheet, cutting in from the left and driving a low shot under keeper Bath.

However, United were denied a clean sheet when Sam Collier grabbed a consolation for the Centurions in time added on.

Defender Jamie Hyde is a doubt for Saturday’s match with a neck injury.

Evesham United: Coleman, Kalonji, Osborne (Williams 87), Hurren, Eze, Warmer, Connor, Mackenzie (Hicks 84), Hughes (Downing 77), Palmer, Agbor. Subs not used: Tulloch, Elmes.

Attendance: 88.