Don't knock 'em - back 'em!

by Mervyn Collins

NOW isn't the time to turn against United's players. It's the time to get right behind them!

Yes two points out of a possible nine is hardly promotion form but, amazingly, a top two finish is still in Evesham's hands.

There was far more urgency about the performance in the Forest of Dean on Tuesday night and the Robins didn't deserve to be on the end of only a second Southern League Division One West defeat in 13 matches.

Had Richard Ball not seen a last-ditch penalty superbly saved then Dave Busst's men would have moved two points clear in second place. As it now stands, Yate's defeat to champions-elect Mangotsfield has given Bromsgrove and Clevedon a sniff of an automatic rise in status.

"No one is more disappointed than myself," said assistant manager Paul West. "Saturday was disappointing after the kick in the teeth against Yate but we've created 17 chances at Cinderford and only managed to hit the target five times.

"We've got to look at the positives and with a little more luck we could quite easily have won 3 or 4-1."

Contrived

Ball, Jermaine Clarke and Matty Hall contrived to spurn at least half-a-dozen glorious opportunities on a night when the ball just didn't run kindly for Evesham.

And, it wasn't only in the Cinderford goalmouth that fortune favoured the hosts as the deciding goal after nine minutes entered Tim Clarke's net off the back of the recalled Grant Pinkney as he found himself with two men to mark at the back post.

United now had to chase the game and their appetite and commitment couldn't be faulted but their inexperience in this kind of lofty situation is getting to them.

Mistakes at the back by the usually solid Anthony Watson and Stuart Hamilton gave Town chances to heap more misery on the visitors, while some referees might have shown red to goalkeeper Clarke after 66 minutes when he handled outside his own penalty area.

Namesake Jermaine wasted a couple of free headers and there were loud appeals for a penalty when Hall looked to be shoved inside the box.

Simon Fitter and Danny Will-iams replaced Gavin O'Toole and Neil O'Sullivan late on but such was Evesham's desperation that goalkeeper Clarke was in the home 18-yard area for a corner with six minutes of normal time remaining.

He managed to get a foot to the ball and Leon Blake's drive was deflected over.

Clarke stayed up for the next two flag-kicks, while opposite number Steve Benbow did well to get a hand to Jermaine Clarke's on target strike.

Just when all seemed lost, the referee gave Hall the thumbs-up when the Evesham man again went to ground in the box but, after a lengthy delay due to protestations and more yellow cards, Benbow flung himself to his right to keep out Ball's spot-kick.

West revealed that John Gayle will be back in the squad this weekend, while a couple of players are expected to overcome small niggles including O'Sull-ivan who will be hoping to get one over on his former club.

"It's mine and Dave's job to pick the players. Missing the penalty so late on didn't help but the pressure's on now and we need the supporters to get behind us.

"We aren't clinical enough in front of goal at the moment and that's something we need to get right quickly. We can't afford any more slip-ups.

That fluffed penalty, though, won't matter if United win their remaining three matches starting with Bedworth at Common Road on Saturday.

And, a win seven days later at Brackley would make for the perfect recipe for revenge when Cinderford are in town for the season's final league game on April 30!

Saturday's match is being sponsored by Evesham Marina.