Robins earn draws with league teams (From Cotswold Journal)

Robins earn draws with league teams

11:00am Saturday 28th July 2012 in News

EVESHAM United continued their impressive buildup to the new season with an encouraging 1-1 draw with League Two outfit Cheltenham Town.

In front of United’s biggest pre-season crowd of 657, manager Matt Clarke took more positives from his newlook side’s display ahead of the league opener with Sholing on August 18.

Cheltenham, who paraded a different XI in each half, enjoyed all the early possession without testing keeper Dean Coleman.

That was until the 20th minute when Coleman was at full stretch to save from Sam Deering.

The lively Roland Agbor created Evesham’s best chance of the half, setting up Henry Eze who headed over.

Coleman kept out Kaid Mohamed and Darryl Duffy at the start of the second-half before Evesham shocked the league side by taking a 51stminute lead.

Agbor got the better of Keith Lowe down the left and, from his cross, trialist defender Colin Hamilton headed into his own net.

Coleman was again in the thick of the action, making a brilliant double save from Duffy and Jeff Goulding, before Evesham were awarded a penalty on 68 minutes. Town keeper Phil Smith, however, saved Luke Corbett’s spot-kick after Lowe had fouled Marcus Palmer.

Any hopes of victory disappeared 11 minutes from time when Tristan Plummer shot across sub keeper Nick Thomas to level.

Evesham: Coleman (Thomas 60), Wood, Masutto (Osborne 46), Robinson, Eze, Gierdl (MacKenzie 51), Downing, Hicks, Corbett (Gierdl 81), Tulloch (Palmer 51), Agbor.

• Evesham recorded a welldeserved 0-0 home draw against League One newcomers Shrewsbury Town.

Marvin Morgan went close on several occasions for the Shrews, while Evesham’s Eze headed over from Pedram Ardalany’s corner.

Evesham keeper Thomas was the busier after the interval. He could only watch as Joe Jacobson struck the bar before he bravely saved from Tom Bradshaw.

Evesham: Thomas, Wood, Mazuto, Rhodes, Eze, Ardalany, MacKenzie, Hicks, Palmer, Wellings, Osborne. Subs: Agbor, Connor, Corbett, P Jones, J Jones, Downing, Tulloch.

Attendance: 265.

• Two Evesham United Juniors players have joined professional academies.

Alice Keitley, nine, and Harry Leeson, eight, joined Aston Villa and Bristol City respectively.

Meanwhile, Evesham United Under 15s want to sign boys aged 14 on or before August 31 for next year’s Ambassador League team.

Training is on Fridays at the Jubilee stadium from 7.30pm until 8.30pm.

For more details, call Mark Edwards on 07866 550106 or Paul Lowe on 07773 267114.

The club also need players aged 16 or over on August 31 for the Worcestershire Women’s League.

Training is on Fridays at the Jubilee Stadium from 6pm until 7.30pm.

Anyone interested can call Dan Marshall on 07856 255052 or Rosie Johns on 07917 616510.