Media Watch - Evesham United

Evesham United braced to face leaders Merthyr Town
Evesham Journal

EVESHAM United aim to become the first team to record a double over runaway Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West leaders Merthyr Town on Saturday (3pm).

The Robins, on a 12-game unbeaten streak, are the only team to have won at the Cigg-E Stadium this term and one of only two sides to have beaten the Welshmen all season. December’s 1-0 victory was one of 10 registered by Paul Collicutt’s side during their impressive run to fourth in the table.

The manager said: “Not many teams have gone there and won. We have got the chance of doing the double and that hasn’t happened to them for a long time. We are the only team to have beaten them at home and I know that hurt them, so they will be out for revenge. We have got to make sure we are right.

We couldn’t be going into the game in better form and we are giving ourselves a good chance to perform against Merthyr. We are looking forward to it. For a home game, it’s the hardest this season. They are at the top and rightly so. Merthyr are the best team in the league and I would imagine they would win it by 10 to 15 points.

I think it hurt them when they didn’t get automatic promotion last season and missed out in the play-offs. They are stronger this time, so it speaks volumes for the way we performed there.”

Evesham also look for their second win in a week at the Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee following last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Mangotsfield United.

The Robins have drafted in Chippenham Town keeper Conor Thompson, 19, for two games to cover for Kevin Sawyer’s suspension. Thompson is familiar with the Robins after thwarting them in a 0-0 draw in November for Larkhall Athletic.

Striker Adam Mann, 23, has also joined the club permanently from Gloucester City on a deal until the end of next season following a successful loan spell.

Defenders Lewis Binns (ankle) and Linden Dovey (illness) and midfield duo Nick Stanley (knee) and Liam Harding (back) are all doubts for the weekend.

Merthyr Town take on in-form Evesham in Worcestershire
Wales On Line

Merthyr Town travel to Worcestershire on Saturday aiming to extend their unbeaten Southern League run to 10 matches.

Manager Steve Jenkins and his Martyrs take on an in-form Evesham United team who have already won at Merthyr’s Penydarren Park stadium earlier this season. Nick Stanley scored a late Evesham goal to earn a 1-0 win and that was Merthyr’s last defeat. They have since won eight and drawn one in nine fixtures.

Kayne McLaggon scored both goals in Merthyr’s hard-earned 2-1 against Fleet Town last weekend and they are nine points clear of second-placed Taunton with a game in hand.

Stratford, in third, are 15 points behind the leaders.

Former Swansea player Guillermo Bauza will be missing from Merthyr’s team at Evesham, completing his three-game suspension for being sent off at Bishop’s Cleeve on New Year’s Day. Bauza will return for Merthyr’s clash with Swindon Supermarine away on Saturday, February 7.

Kyle Patten and Aaron Collins, both signed on loan from Newport County, are again in the Martyrs’ squad and Matthew Harris is back after injury. Harris trained with the squad this week and could be in the squad at Evesham.

Merthyr know they are in for a tough test against an Evesham team who are out to complete a league double over the Welsh club. Captain Ryan Green and his players must be at their best against hosts who have earned 10 wins and two draws from their last 12 matches. That run includes their midweek win at Penydarren Park.

Ashley Edenborough, with 12 goals in all competitions, is Evesham’s top scorer, while Ian Traylor leads the way for Merthyr with 17 league goals so far and McLaggon is close behind with a 15 goals tally.

The next home match for Merthyr is against second in the table Taunton on Saturday, February 14 (3pm).

Mann Makes Permanent Evesham Move
Pitchero - Evo-Stik League Southern

Vanarama Conference North club Gloucester City`s striker Adam Mann has joined Evo-Stik League Southern Division One South & West side Evesham United on a permanent deal.

The 23-year-old has been with the club on and off since 2010, making 133 appearances in a City shirt.

After spending a maximum period on loan at Evesham, Mann agreed that staying best suited his current personal commitments after scoring 7 goals in twelve games at the Jubilee Stadium.

Taunton Town entertain prolific Shortwood on Saturday
Somerset County Gazette

TAUNTON Town play their last home game for three weeks when they entertain Shortwood United in the Evo-Stik League on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

With three testing away fixtures to follow, including a trip to leaders Merthyr Town, the Peacocks will be determined to make home advantage count and secure maximum points to maintain their healthy buffer in second spot and so defend their 13 game unbeaten run.

However they will have a job on their hands against the in-form Gloucestershire side who are very much in the frame for a play-off place and who have scored 17 goals in their last five matches, having beaten Bridgwater 5-0 and Tiverton 5-1 in the past week.

Manager Leigh Robin-son said: ” It will be a really tough game as Shortwood are a very talented side. They’ve scored five in each of their last two games so confidence will be very high. We weren’t anywhere near our best against Clevedon last weekend but knowing our lads they will be focused on the challenge ahead on Saturday.”

Town’s injury list is taking longer than hoped for to clear up, with Ben Kirk, Ben Carter, Aidan Chainey and Lamar Powell still not fit, meaning an unchanged squad will be on duty for the clash at the Viridor Stadium.