Evesham 3,

Solihull Blossomfield 2

EVESHAM produced an excellent comeback to secure all three points and guarantee safety for the season. The result also keeps their hopes of a top four finish alive as they enter the final stage of their campaign.

Despite never playing well, they managed to dig deep and for the third successive week finished playing better and stronger than when they started.

The game started promisingly, as the home side gained early possession and dominated the opening stages. They passed the ball well and as the midfield stamped their authority Chris Perry and Stuart Bearcroft created plenty of problems along the right flank.

Yet, once again, poor decision making and impatience left Evesham with fewer chances than their possession and dominance deserved. When the ball was put into the area, Martin Husbands looked dangerous in attack and when Nick Lloyd ventured forward in one of his characteristic mazy runs, it was Husbands who picked up the pass, turned sharply and beat the keeper with a well placed shot.

Rather than settling down, too many of the home side saw this as an opportunity to seek individual glory and many further attacks were poorly constructed and only Matt Baumber from short corners looked likely to add to the scoring.

Frank Lake and Stuart Harris were secure in defence as the game progressed in a rather uninspiring manner.

In the second half, Evesham played in patches. They were the better side but in their hurry to kill the game managed to concede possession too often. Both Lloyd and Baumber were caught in possession too easily and the Solihull visitors managed to start playing further forward.

Against the run of play, the visitors secured a series of short corners from which they managed to both equalise and take the lead with the same, well worked move.

Evesham were then chasing the game. Steve Miller and the dangerous Mark Brown started to attack with more purpose and Husbands narrowly missed two chances to equalise. However, with ten minutes to go, Chris Perry skilfully picked the ball up in the area and rounded the keeper only to be illegally stopped.

From the penalty spot skipper Husbands made no mistake to equalise.

Evesham were now in the game again and only in the last few minutes did they play with more purpose and control. Their dominance allowed the midfield to attack and Baumber continued his excellent scoring form to move into the area and fire an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. Although the visitors had an opportunity at the very end, Evesham were relieved to come out as victors in a scrappy game.

"We've played pretty poorly today - but I suppose it's a good side that can play badly and win. Our character has been superb recently - and has made up for some disappointing individual performances. But we're still a good side and try to play good hockey" said Husbands.

Next week they travel to lowly Old Silhillians, seeking revenge for a surprising defeat earlier in the season.