THERE was plenty for manager Dave Busst to ponder over after his Evesham United side started a hectic pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win at Alvechurch on Tuesday night, writes Mervyn Collins.

The action on the pitch at Lye Meadow wasn't the prettiest but again the Robins showed resilience at the back and a new sharpness up front brought about by Jae Martin.

The former Redditch and Moor Green man netted both goals in a match of three 30-minute periods that saw the visitors take an early lead, be pegged back just before the end of the first period and then snatch the winner midway through the next.

Martin's finishing skills will have pleased the Common Road management team who had decided to keep Richard Ball back for last night's match against Tamworth.

Jermaine Clarke is suffering from mumps and will be sidelined for most of the pre-season, while Busst decided to experiment up front and in midfield while teaming up Lee Knight, Stuart Hamilton and Anthony Watson in front of fit again goalkeeper Dave Adey.

First game

It was the 34-year-old stopper's first game since tearing an adductor muscle in January and he is glad to be back.

"I've done all the pre-season and I'm certainly looking to get my place back," Adey admitted.

"It was all going so well when I got injured and it's been a long road back. I wouldn't wish on anyone what I went through with the injury, it really was dreadful.

"It was difficult just to walk in a straight line but I carried on working but I knew that there was no way that I was going to play football again last season. The swelling around the top of my leg was incredible and it was almost black with bruising." Adey recalled.

Another player, who like Lee Knight and Adey, made a comeback in United colours after injury at Alvechurch was Inderpaul Khela.

The former Kidderminster Harriers utility man suffered half-a-dozen dislocated shoulders during his previous spell at the club - his last soon after Busst took over from Phil Mullen.

"I had to have the shoulder pinned so I took last season off to ensure it was back to full strength," Khela revealed.

"I haven't had a problem with it in training and I've just played in an Asian tournament so fingers crossed everything should be alright."

The 20-year-old hasn't yet decided where his future lies and admits that playing regularly is his aim should he sign for Evesham.

"I don't want to sit on the bench week after week after so much time on the sidelines," he honestly admitted. "I've spoken to another couple of clubs in lower divisions but I don't really want to drop down because once you're there you tend to stay there. I'm just hoping that the manager will give me a chance to prove myself and I can regain my regular place in the side this season."

Busst used numerous triallists on Tuesday and there could be more shuffling of the pack at Leamington on Saturday (3).

However, Tuesday's visit of Moor Green to Common Road (7.45) should see a more familiar side with start of the new season just three weeks away.