A LATE goal from 10-man Evesham United condemned Tiverton Town to their first league defeat since August as the Robins won in Devon.

It was the Jubilee Stadium outfit’s sixth Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West fixture without defeat.

The match got off to a quiet start with Ethan Phillips seeing a long-range shot held by visiting keeper Kevin Sawyer.

Joe Perry palmed a shot from forward Lance Smith around the post at the other end.

The visitors took the lead in the 19th minute when Matt Sysum met Nick Stanley’s free-kick with his head to score.

But the hosts equalised seven minutes later when James Mudge fired into the top corner.

Following the equaliser, neither side were able to create too many chances, with both defences on top form.

Evesham were reduced to 10 men in the 40th minute when midfielder Ashley Williams received a straight red card for a tackle on Owen Howe.

But the Robins retook the lead on the stroke of half-time when another Stanley free-kick into the box found captain Sysum unmarked at the back post.

The centre-half planted a well-placed header past the keeper for his second goal.

The second period continued in the same vein as the first, with neither side creating many clear chances and the game deteriorating into a long-ball battle.

Tiverton created the better opportunities and they finally equalised in the 87th minute when Mike Williams slid in to finish at the far post.

But, in the sixth minute of injury-time, debutant Nathan Modest sprinted through on a counter-attack and the substitute rounded Perry to score a dramatic winner.

Modest, a 24-year-old pacy forward, was signed from Vanarama National League North side AFC Telford United on the eve of the game.

He started his career at hometown club Sheffield Wednesday as a junior, signing a professional contract at Hillsborough in the summer of 2008.

He made five appearances for the Owls, mainly as a substitute, but left in 2011.

Modest, now a student at Hartpury College near Gloucester, has since appeared for Darlington, Sheffield FC, Worksop Town, Gloucester City and Hednesford Town.

However, after just 21 days at the Jubilee Stadium, fellow forward Lewis Powell, signed from Mangotsfield United, decided to leave the Robins for league rivals Taunton Town.

Evesham: Sawyer, Dovey, Stanley, Williams, Sysum, Wellon, Brown (Wilson 64), Wood, Mann (Harding 46), Smith (Modest 68), Green. Subs not used: Binns, Sloggett.

Attendance: 232.