TOWN WIN THE ROBINS’ CLASH
EVESHAM U 0 CHELTENHAM T 4
EVESHAM United opened their pre-season campaign with a solid display against League One Cheltenham Town who needed two late goals to finish off their hosts.
Both sides had chances in the opening exchanges with Zac Guinan having a header saved by Evesham’s Fraser Barnsley before Joe Hunt had a longrange effort palmed away by visiting keeper Max Harris, Toumani Sidibe unable to tuck away the rebound.
Cheltenham opened their tally on 18 minutes when Adulai Sambu forced a defender into a mistake and then pulled the ball back into the sixyard box where Guinan swept home.
It was 2-0 on the stroke of half-time when the ball was worked out to the tireless Ben Williams on the left flank and he drilled a shot past the keeper and in off the far post.
Elliot Bonds crashed an effort against the Evesham upright early in the second period before new Cheltenham boss Wade Elliott rang the changes with 30 minutes remaining.
Second half strike pair Owen James and Ben Whitehead tried in vain to find an opening for the Southern League Division One South side while another debutant, Michael O’Regan, made some vital challenges at the back.
Cheltenham’s George Lloyd had an effort ruled out for offside but two goals in the final four minutes ended any hopes the hosts might have had of clawing their way back into the game.
It was Lloyd who made it 3-0 with a cool finish after latching on to a ball over the top of the Evesham defence.
Callum Ebanks then put his shot over the target moments later when in a similar position but the visitors saved their best until the final minute when Brandon Liggett rolled the ball to Liam Sercombe who placed a 25-yard effort beyond Jordan Schofield.