Ball brace sees off promotion rivals (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Ball brace sees off promotion rivals

Clevedon Tn 0, Evesham Utd 2

EBULLIENT Evesham provided the perfect response to their doubters with a crucial victory at the home of one of their promotion rivals, writes Mervyn Collins.

On an afternoon when five of the top seven in Southern League Division One West all collected maximum points, three was the minimum requirement and two goals from Richard Ball in the space of three second half minutes ensured a rapid pick-me-up after the Robins had seen five points slip from their grasp in the past two weekends.

Confidently

The visitors started confidently and, once Ball had bagged his 18th and 19th goals of the campaign, they could have easily swamped a poor Clevedon side.

It took Town almost half-an-hour to worry Tim Clarke while, at the other end, Ball and Jermaine Clarke were a constant menace.

Matty Hall headed an early chance over - a miss replicated by Ball from Simon Fitter's 23rd minute corner.

Ball and strike partner Clarke combined well 12 minutes before the break only for the latter to see his shot hit the inside of a post and then see his follow-up diverted for a corner.

The deadlock was finally broken seven minutes in the second half when Hall appeared to miskick a shot that crept inside Scott Cord-eroy's right-hand upright.

The Town goalkeeper touched over Fitter's 25-yarder but March Burrow met the resultant flag-kick with his head and Ball was on hand to volley the ball into the net.

The striker now sensed a swift hat-trick and it was a milestone he tried his best to reach coming closest with a 71st minute strike that struck the inside of a post.

There was little for United to worry about at the other end where Burrow, preferred to Steven Hands in the centre of defence, the fit again Stuart Hamilton and immaculate Anthony Watson all performed admirably in what was a solid team display throughout.

Suffered

Tim Clarke saved a Jack Pitcher volley but was helpless two minutes from time when the top scorer suffered the same fate as Evesham's strikers.

Pitcher then hit the bar and substitute Wayne O'Sullivan somehow nodded the loose ball over the top.

Pitcher and partner Tom Jacobs had scored 43 goals between them prior to Saturday's clash but they were kept in check by an Evesham rearguard that always looks far more resilient and organised with Ham-ilton in the back line.

All in all it was a performance that will have heartened United followers and the manner in which the players reacted at the final whistle showed exactly what it meant to them!

Southern League

Division One West

P W D L F A Pts

Mangotsfield 34 20 8 6 72 40 68

Yate Tn 34 19 8 7 67 31 65

Evesham 34 19 8 7 55 27 65

Bromsgrove 34 17 10 7 53 36 61

Clevedon 34 18 5 11 65 44 59

Brackley Tn 34 16 9 9 59 40 57

Ashford 34 15 9 10 54 40 54

Paulton 34 16 6 12 52 48 54

Rothwell 35 15 7 13 51 47 52

Corby Tn 35 12 12 11 46 50 48

Stourport 35 13 6 16 53 48 45

Thame 35 13 6 16 44 57 45

Burnham 35 12 6 17 49 58 42

Sutton Coldfld* 34 9 11 14 34 46 38

Swindon Super 34 9 11 14 34 46 38

Cinderford 30 10 7 13 40 44 37

Marlow 35 8 13 14 46 58 37

Taunton Tn 34 10 7 17 51 65 37

Oxford City 35 10 7 18 43 57 37

Bedworth 33 10 6 17 37 52 36

Bracknell Tn 35 9 9 17 41 62 36

Egham 30 3 3 24 16 72 12

*Points deducted.