Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West

Evesham United 1 Slimbridge 2

NEW signing Mason Lewis was an instant hero for Slimbridge as he scored in injury time to give his side a first Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West win in three months.

Evesham had a man sent off and the weather was not the best but that should not go against the excellent victory over a league high-flyer.

Kicking against a strong headwind, Evesham were unfortunate not to open the scoring in the first five minutes of the game with player manager Freddy Ward clearing a goal bound shot off the line.

At the other end, good work from Brad Martin and Joe Stokes ended with a firm Evesham defence blocking an effort from Jack Sklenar.

Evesham’s Liam Harding tried his luck from the halfway line but his strike sailed over the bar as it dipped into the wind.

The home side's Elliot Kennedy also tried his luck from distance but again failing to trouble debutant Swans keeper Marcus Beauchamp with his shot wide of the goal.

A thirty yard free kick from Adam Mace was floated in on the wind but just missed the top corner by inches.

A crazy three minute spell on thirty minutes started with Evesham winning three consecutive corners, the third of which resulted in the home side taking the lead through Kennedy after the visiting defence failed to clear.

Immediately from the kick-off, Slimbridge equalised with Stokes playing in Sklenar who controlled the ball well to fire past keeper Kevin Sawyer. Evesham restarted and forced their way into the visitor’s box, as the loose ball was being picked up by keeper Beauchamp, striker Lance Smith kicked out at the keeper in frustration earning him a straight red card.

Slimbridge took advantage of the extra man and finished the half with the better of the play.

The second-half saw Eveshamwith the strong wind behind them, and missed an early opportunity with Adam Mann failing to connect to a long through ball splitting the Swans defence.

Sklenar at the other end fire a shot straight at Sawyer when well placed in the box.

Evesham failed to let the one man deficit hinder them as they continued to press the Slimbridge goal, Beauchamp growing in confidence pulled off a fingertip save from Mann destined for the top corner.

As injury time approached the visitor’s counter attacked with Lee Smith through ball saw Sklenar’s shot well saved by Sawyer.

In the dying seconds, a long cross field ball by Smith caught the home sides defence napping allowing substitute Mason Lewis to run in from 30 yards out drilling the ball past a helpless Sawyer giving Slimbridge a much needed three points.

Next up is Tiverton Town at Thornhill Park on Wednesday at 7:45.

Slimbridge: Beauchamp, Turl, Mace (Lewis), Grimes, Thwaite, Twyman, Stokes, Ward (Oakes), Smith, Martin (Thomas), Sklenar

MOM: Jack Twyman