Match Preview | Evesham United

Evesham United v Tiverton Town

Saturday 11th October 3pm Kick 0ff

The Spiers and Hartwell Stadium

The next stop for the Yellows is at Worcestershire based side Evesham United. Tiverton will resume their Southern League Premier South campaign in the bottom four and will once again have their eyes on moving up the table. Having been competitive in all the games they have played this term, a few tweaks and cutting out costly mistakes could reverse their fortunes on Saturday.

Aside from the mountain we gave ourselves to climb at Weymouth, we have well and truly been close to achieving positive results in all of our other fixtures. However the elusive winning solution remains a mystery that needs to be unravelled in a short space of time, before our situation becomes more of a desperate one.

Asa Hall and Steve Orchard’s men are an attractive side to watch, but they can’t keep giving team’s head-starts. Yes, the first goal on Tuesday night was conceded in very dubious circumstances, but shipping 2/3 goals in the first half of matches won’t win you too many games of football in this division.

Injuries influenced team selection against Poole, though despite this we did give a good account of ourselves then and players that replaced others will have been playing with the intention of keeping their places for Saturday. A few may have given our management duo, tough decisions to make.

Evesham have settled into life in our division nicely, following their play-off winning season in the league below. Mike Ford’s side are ninth currently and their last league game on September 22nd saw them edge out Bracknell 3-2 , on the road. They most recently took to the field on Saturday when they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Ilkeston in the FA Trophy. However, they did progress through two rounds of the FA Cup and with their only loss in the league at The Spiers and Hartwell Stadium coming against Havant & Waterlooville, suggesting that they are strong on their own patch.

Manager Mike Ford made over 300 appearances for Oxford United and played over 200 games for Cardiff City in the EFL. The popular defender also acted as caretaker manager at Oxford United. He enjoyed a 16 year professional playing career that began in 1984 and ended in 2000. A former manager of Banbury and Oxford City, Ford has a wealth of experience in the dugout too.

Amongst Ford’s recruit’s is a player that will need no introduction to Yellows fans, forward Kai Churchley. The former Bristol City loanee who showed plenty of ability, but was not afforded too many starts at the Slee Blackwell stadium, joined Merthyr in the summer and is at present on loan at Evesham.

Captain Amer Awadh is an ex Banbury player. Although the gifted attacking player stood out against Tiverton when being part of the North Leigh team, in the 2022/23 season. Good feet and a low centre of gravity, make him a dangerous proposition for the Robins.

Striker Levi Steele was also part of that North Leigh side on that same evening and is Evesham’s joint top goal scorer this term with 4 goals from nine games. His early promise blossoming with 37 goals from 81 games, being his record for the hosts.

Journeyman Forward Andre Wright signed a pro contract with West Brom who at the time were in the Premier League, when his senior career was in its infancy. He did eventually become an EFL player with Coventry and played for Torquay in the National League. A spell was spent with Ayr United in Scotland too. Still in his late 20’s, Wright has played for numerous top non league clubs including Hereford, Kidderminster Harriers, Kettering, Gloucester City and Telford. He also has four league goals to his name.

The Robin’s have a trio of midfielder’s who had brief EFL careers. Twenty one year old Josh Barlow was formerly at Shrewsbury and is a key performer for Evesham, being ever present in the promotion campaign. Aaron Heap 25, played in Two Cup games for Oxford United and the ex Banbury and North Leigh man is a talented technical player, who is into his Third season with the Worcestershire side and is another mainstay of Ford’s team.

Teenager Brandon Liggett was a permanent fixture in Cheltenham’s academy side’s. The Robins jumped to the front of the queue in making him a permanent following his release. As a loanee, Hungerford, Gloucester and Salisbury have all taken the player who played a few games in the Cheltenham first team, on loan, in the past.

Centre back Ioan Richards has brought experience and pedigree to Evesham’s backline. Spending the previous two seasons at Supermarine, stints with Taunton and Gloucester are also on the former Cheltenham pro’s CV. Alex Harris is the Robin’s current custodian. He was previously at Merthyr and Gloucester, earlier in his senior career.

The players have to keep believing that the tide will turn and keep working hard. If they apply themselves they are more than capable of upsetting the form book. Calm heads are needed in difficult times. The fans will once again be behind Asa, Steve and the lads.