BANBURY United lost 2-1 on Saturday after a mistake by 'keeper Andy Kemp allowed Evesham United to leave the Spencer Stadium with three points.
Evesham started the game the stronger of the teams and it took only two minutes for the away side to take the lead, James McPike heading in unmarked from the first corner of the game after Josh Quaynor whipped in a great ball.
Benjamin Pugh's long throws were causing problems for the Puritans defence and Josh Blake was struggling to hold the ball up on a poor pitch. Danny Edmond took advantage of the playing conditions on 18 minutes after a through ball from left back Tommy Kinch, which Edmond collected and his shot from 25 yards deceived Evesham 'keeper Daniel Platt and squeeze under the crossbar.
This woke Banbury up and Ben Polk started troubling the Evesham full backs with his pace. Then on the half hour mark Edmond could have doubled his day's tally but shot wide from 10 yards.
Pugh switched play superbly throughout for Evesham and just before half time found McPike again who nearly scored a second when he spun quickly away from Liam Dolman but 'keeper Kemp watched his powerful shot go inches wide.
Just after the restart Edmond had a fantastic chance to put Banbury ahead but put the ball wide when one-on-one with Platt. In the 54th minute Pugh was put through by a ball in behind the home side's defence and with a superb half volley struck the underside of the crossbar with Kemp well beaten but the ball bounced down and away from danger.
The suspended Joe Coleman was missed in the Banbury midfield and the 198 watching saw Evesham win the game in the 70th minute. Henry Eze set in a dipping shot that could only palm out to Pugh who tucked the rebound away from six yards out.
Banbury threw everything they had at the visitors and although Simeon Williams displayed great trickery, by the end they had simply run out of ideas and were fortunate not to concede further in the 82nd minute after Kemp flapped at a corner and Kinch had to clear of the line.
Evesham were happy to keep the ball for the remainder of the match and went back to Worcestershire with three well deserved points. Banbury have a tough trip to second-place AFC Totton in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier to look forward to on Tuesday night.
