Southern League Premier South – Tuesday 12th August 2025
Evesham United 1 v 1 Basingstoke Town Attendance 575
Where: The Spiers & Hartwell Stadium, Cheltenham Road, Evesham, Worcs. WR11 2LZ
Assistant Manager Aaron Nicholson’s line-up for the opening away fixture of the season was: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Joseph O’Loughlin, 4. Ben Cook (Capt), 5. Jack Ball, 6. Scott Armsworth, 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. Josh Green, 10. Robbie Gallagher, 11. George Reid, 12. D’Andre Brown
On the bench: 14. Dmitri Paul Hardman, 9. Charlie Austin, 15. Joel Rollinson, 16. James Clark & 17. Elliott Legg
Referee – David Hinton
With both Manager Dan Brownlie & captain Billy Upton absent for personal reasons, Aaron Nicholson took charge of the team, whilst Ben Cook took on the captains armband, it was Stoke who attacked the clubhouse end in the first half, and were initially on the attack, but Evesham were able to clear.
Then after good pressure work from Robbie Gallagher, Bradley Wilson received the ball on the left and sent over a cross that found George Reid at the far post where he volleyed the ball past the keeper and over the line before Gallagher knocked into the back of the goal. GOAL! Evesham United 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Reid 5 mins)
Stoke continued to press Evesham as we held them in their own half over the next couple of minutes.
The home side were struggling to get into the game, but a long ball over the top, saw Stoke’s keeper Simon Grant come out and clear.
Gallagher continued to run his marker ragged, as he and Reid combined well on the right.
On twenty-seven minutes, it should have been two, after Ben Cook retrieved a loose ball and found Markus Johnson-Schuster on the right, taking the ball to the byline, before sending over a low cross, where Gallagher, failed to make the right connection, and the ball slid past the left-hand post.
Stoke continued to be the team on top, but Evesham could have levelled, as a cross from the right to the far post was wastefully headed over the bar.
There was then a two-minute delay, as Cook received treatment for an injury.
We played four minutes of added-time and went into the break with the lead
Halftime Score: Evesham United 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town
Stoke made a halftime change as Ben Cook was replaced by Joel Rollinson.
Scott Armsworth nearly doubled the lead, but his header was straight at the Evesham keeper, but would have been ruled out for offside anyway.
Rollinson then forced a super save out of the Evesham keeper.
Gallagher then forced the keeper to make another save, as he palmed the ball to safety.
It’s still all Stoke, as calls for a penalty were waived away, as the referee gave the free-kick outside the area. The kick hit the wall and was cleared.
It’s Stoke still as Gallagher teams up with Rollinson, who finds Reid, but his cross is knocked away.
Disaster strikes, as an Evesham cross is headed back into the six-yard box, and his knocked home. Evesham 1 – 1 Basingstoke
On seventy minutes we made our second change, as George Reid was replaced by Charlie Austin.
Within two minutes Austin forced a fine save out, as the keeper palms the ball just past the post.
Evesham came forward again, and a volley flies just over Grant’s goal.
Another cross from Gallagher goes by the wayside, as there’s no one in the six-yard box to put it away.
We made two more changes, Bradley Wilson was replaced by Elliott Legg, and Joe O’Loughlin by James Clark (82 mins).
In added-time, Austin’s chance to win the game came and went, as his header at the far right-hand post flew over the bar from three yards.
Two minutes later, the referee blew the final whistle, and the points were shared.
Full-time Score: Evesham United 1 v 1 Basingstoke Town
Wright 66 mins, Reid 5 mins,
Match Thought’s
A mix of emotions from the fans after the game, as some felt it was two points dropped, or a point earned. Talking to fans after the game, they also felt Jack Ball, Robbie Gallagher, Joel Rollinson and D’Andre Brown were the best players on the night.
Stoke remain one of the few remaining unbeaten teams, as we have a tough trip to Somerset.
Up Next:
Well we head back out on the road to Taunton Town this Saturday (16th)
Match Report by Martin French..
English 
Polish 
It’s clear we need to get Charlie or Liam back as starters, as we lack a finisher in the six yard box.