Post by al on Nov 9, 2008 14:45:08 GMT
For some time now Dave has been pestering me to do a match report so here goes, my first one
On walking through the Pop side turnstiles and up the steps to the hallowed turf, could sense around the ground that the Plainmoor faithful expected nothing more than a win and progression into the latter rounds and the possibility of the illusive “big team draw”.
On watching the team warming up you could tell that they were fired up for this match and it meant something to the players. Evesham had good support in numbers but am sure deep down they know that their cup run would end at the hands of the Gulls.
First Half
In the opening few minutes there was a battle for supremacy in the middle of the park with Hargreaves and Rowe dictating play. It was obvious from the side lines that Evesham were well organised and were not going to just roll over, for them this was their cup final. When Evesham did string a few passes together the players touch and somewhat erratic shooting didn’t trouble Bevan in goal, I must point out that Bevan must be thinking life in the English Riviera isn’t all that bad and I for one would be pleased if he signed on a permanent deal.
With the wind picking up it was obvious that a long ball game wasn’t going to work. When united did get it on the deck and pass it about they were just too good for “the sham”. Carayol carried on where he left off and with obvious bags of pace he troubled their full backs and on a few occasions the end product resulting with the ball in the box, if Carayol can work on the end product Tim Sills could profit greatly. When Carlisle is fit he will have to work hard in training to get his place back in the team although his goal scoring contributions for us this season have been second to none. I digress back to the game.
Evesham were proving a tough nut to crack as the end ball wasn’t cutting it for united. In the 28th minute when the dead lock was broken is was the infamous in swinging corner from Nicolson to be met by a nicely timed run by Tim Sills.
You could see the Evesham’s players and fans head dropped as they now had an almost impossible task to come back from. Tempers were now fairing between the two sets of players and to me it was only a matter of time before cards were flying out of the ref’s pocket. As the half time whistle blew it was united who were on top with a workman like performance but nothing to get your heart racing.
After my half time Bovril I took up my usual place on the halfway line.
Second half
The second half started off much the same as the first had ended, Evesham were at this point getting frustrated and tackles were flying in. It always unnerves me the way referees seem to let lower league teams off when they commit a late challenge with the attitude of “well they don’t know any better”.
At this point Evesham were trying to get back into the game with a now or never attitude. Evesham were pressing and forced a corner which somewhat bizarrely ended up in a penalty for the sham. Their bench were jumping up and down like they had just scored the winning penalty in a world cup. How fickle!
Moments later with the towering frame of Scott Bevan it was too much for the Evesham penalty taker and he dually squandered his chance shooting wide of the post. This was the moment that the Evesham players hearts sank and when united slowly but surely wound up the gears. Lee Mansell was having a blinder running down the flanks and getting the ball into the box, he has made that position his own and looks an accomplished right back, although he did play thee in his oxford days. I always liked him in our midfield as he is a genuine box to box player a phrase that is used too often in lower league football. With some nice build up play that man Tim Sills finished up a neat bit of play with a deflected shot beating the Evesham keeper. It was a foregone conclusion. Before you knew it, it was full time and Evesham were left wondering what might have been. It would have felt like a long journey home for the Evesham boys up the M5 and for the impressive gulls it was another win and no goals conceded. Job well done boys, am sure they deserved the drinks that I saw them downing in Bohemia hours later. Well done and now bring on the big boys.
Al
On walking through the Pop side turnstiles and up the steps to the hallowed turf, could sense around the ground that the Plainmoor faithful expected nothing more than a win and progression into the latter rounds and the possibility of the illusive “big team draw”.
On watching the team warming up you could tell that they were fired up for this match and it meant something to the players. Evesham had good support in numbers but am sure deep down they know that their cup run would end at the hands of the Gulls.
First Half
In the opening few minutes there was a battle for supremacy in the middle of the park with Hargreaves and Rowe dictating play. It was obvious from the side lines that Evesham were well organised and were not going to just roll over, for them this was their cup final. When Evesham did string a few passes together the players touch and somewhat erratic shooting didn’t trouble Bevan in goal, I must point out that Bevan must be thinking life in the English Riviera isn’t all that bad and I for one would be pleased if he signed on a permanent deal.
With the wind picking up it was obvious that a long ball game wasn’t going to work. When united did get it on the deck and pass it about they were just too good for “the sham”. Carayol carried on where he left off and with obvious bags of pace he troubled their full backs and on a few occasions the end product resulting with the ball in the box, if Carayol can work on the end product Tim Sills could profit greatly. When Carlisle is fit he will have to work hard in training to get his place back in the team although his goal scoring contributions for us this season have been second to none. I digress back to the game.
Evesham were proving a tough nut to crack as the end ball wasn’t cutting it for united. In the 28th minute when the dead lock was broken is was the infamous in swinging corner from Nicolson to be met by a nicely timed run by Tim Sills.
You could see the Evesham’s players and fans head dropped as they now had an almost impossible task to come back from. Tempers were now fairing between the two sets of players and to me it was only a matter of time before cards were flying out of the ref’s pocket. As the half time whistle blew it was united who were on top with a workman like performance but nothing to get your heart racing.
After my half time Bovril I took up my usual place on the halfway line.
Second half
The second half started off much the same as the first had ended, Evesham were at this point getting frustrated and tackles were flying in. It always unnerves me the way referees seem to let lower league teams off when they commit a late challenge with the attitude of “well they don’t know any better”.
At this point Evesham were trying to get back into the game with a now or never attitude. Evesham were pressing and forced a corner which somewhat bizarrely ended up in a penalty for the sham. Their bench were jumping up and down like they had just scored the winning penalty in a world cup. How fickle!
Moments later with the towering frame of Scott Bevan it was too much for the Evesham penalty taker and he dually squandered his chance shooting wide of the post. This was the moment that the Evesham players hearts sank and when united slowly but surely wound up the gears. Lee Mansell was having a blinder running down the flanks and getting the ball into the box, he has made that position his own and looks an accomplished right back, although he did play thee in his oxford days. I always liked him in our midfield as he is a genuine box to box player a phrase that is used too often in lower league football. With some nice build up play that man Tim Sills finished up a neat bit of play with a deflected shot beating the Evesham keeper. It was a foregone conclusion. Before you knew it, it was full time and Evesham were left wondering what might have been. It would have felt like a long journey home for the Evesham boys up the M5 and for the impressive gulls it was another win and no goals conceded. Job well done boys, am sure they deserved the drinks that I saw them downing in Bohemia hours later. Well done and now bring on the big boys.
Al
