Match Preview
Evesham United v Yate Town
Southern League Division One South
Saturday 8th March 2025 - Kick-off 3.00pm
Yate Town travel to Worcestershire to play Evesham United for this top of the table clash as the season comes to the business end, with only 7 weeks to go. Both clubs have 10 games still to play and 10 points separate the top two, with Yate Town on 70 points and their hosts on 60 points.
Defender, Dan Dempsey, who missed Tuesday night’s 3-3 draw with Willand Rovers, is available for selection and for Ross Stearn, a major playing milestone will be reached if selected, as this will be his 600th senior football appearance.
Form Guide
This season Evesham have been in the top five for much of the time and at present sit on 2nd position with 60 points from 32 games. Evesham have won 18, drawn 6 and lost 8 times and in the process scoring 51 goals and conceding 30 times.
Since the turn of the year Evesham have failed to score just one, that being in their only defeat, on 15th February when they lost 0-1 at Malvern. The only other time (apart from last Saturday) that they have dropped points was in a 1-1 draw at Bemerton, when they took the lead in stoppage time through Alfie Dunn only for Bemerton to equalise four minutes later. There were wins at Cribbs (4-1), Willand Rovers (1-0), Cinderford (2-0).
Their home form this year has seen four wins from four games and in the process, they have only conceded one goal and scored 14 times with wins against Shaftesbury (5-0), Thatcham (2-1), Melksham Town (2-0) and most recently Larkhall Athletic (5-0).
Regan Messenger, Alfie Dunn, Levi Steele, Joshua Barlow and Andre Wright have all been regular scorers with ex-Yate Town defender, Toby Raison scoring in the win against Thatcham Town.
Last Saturday’s game at Helston ended in a 1-1 draw when Evesham came from behind to equalise 10 minutes from the end through Regan Messenger and in stoppage time he hit a post from close range, denying the visitors victory.
Previous meetings:
Earlier this season, on 23rd November, the Bluebells beat Evesham 1-0 with a second half goal (see below) from Yate Town captain Joe Guest, in a close game played in somewhat wet conditions.
Photo courtesy of Ian Christie
Last season the teams met on 4th November and after taking an early lead in the 32nd minute through Callum Hutton, the young forward on loan from Bristol City, the visitors equalised three minutes later through Will Owen. With the game looking very even things changed dramatically after 70 minutes when Owen scored again for Evesham who then added another three goals through Fred Willcox, Amer Awadh and Ethan Morgan to end up winning comfortably, 5-1, in front of 274.
The return fixture was played on 10th February with the game ending in a 1-1 draw after Oli Jenkins had scored in the 71st minute firing home following a corner, Evesham equalised just seven minutes later with a goal from Ethan Moran who curled in a shot from 20 yards to level the scores. The crowd was 288.
In Yate Town promotion season of 2018/19, the Bluebells got the double over Evesham winning 2-1 in Worcestershire and 3-2 at Lodge Road.
Getting there:
The club is running a supporters coach to Evesham, which leaves the South West Interiors Stadium at 12.15pm. Check the club website to see if there any seats are still available.
Directions to the ground by those travelling by car are as follows: from the south leave M5 motorway at Junction 9 signposted Tewkesbury and Evesham. Take 3rd exit signposted Ashchurch and Evesham. Follow A46 (Evesham) through Beckford before reaching roundabout on outskirts of Evesham. The ground is situated on left at the roundabout and is called The Spiers & Hartwell Stadium, Cheltenham Road, Evesham Worcs. Postcode: WR11 2LZ
Next up
Yate Town entertain MELKSHAM TOWN at the South West Interiors Stadium next Saturday (15th March) and the travel to Bideford the following Saturday, 22nd March.