Evesham welcomed Hednesford Town Women to The Spiers & Hartwell Stadium on Sunday. 

The current Cup holders were sure to be a challenge for the newly promoted Tier 6 side who welcomed back Tallulah Brown, Tamzin Hayward and Beattie Jutel to the starting 11. 

The visitors made a fast start using the flanks to good effect but Evesham were defending well with Chloe Raxter saving at the near post early on. Evesham carried a threat too and looked dangerous up front with the hard working Natalie Sewell and Freya Bostock leading the line. Both forwards were full of running, Sewell’s surge forced a corner of which Bostock headed over from Liv Tresigne’s cross.

Captain Chopper Pitts took a booking for a pull back on the halfway line scuppering a Hednesford attack before the visitors took the lead when the ball was lobbed back towards goal following a clearance with Maisy Sinclair able to lift the ball over Raxter for 0-1.

Tamzin Hayward was the next to go into the referee’s notebook, the Hednesford player involved seemingly let off the hook in a coming together.

A period of Hednesford pressure including a couple of corners saw Evesham defended well, Brown, Pitts, Jutel, Kyra Bostock, Matilda Harris and midfielder Ria Salleh all heading, blocking, tackling and clearing danger well.

Despite the pressure from Hednesford, Evesham still had chances with shots from F. Bostock and Hayward saved.

Hednesford extended their lead with 10 minutes left of the first half when a defence splitting pass saw Millie Rogers go through one on one and finish coolly into the bottom corner for 0-2. 

Sewell rounded Keeper Liv Wells out wide and her shot was expertly cleared off the line by Kate Wright as the hosts looked to get back into the game but in added time at the end of the half, a good passage of play saw Sinclair score her second of the afternoon for a 0-3 HT lead.

The second started with the visitors on the attack but fine defending from Harris and a good save from Raxter kept them out.

Changes were made with Jess Kenny and Bea Harding coming on for Hayward and Brown. Soon after Pitts was  off for Ella Parkinson as manager Mark Taylor changed the shape, Parkinson immediately sending in a cross from the right with Wells making an outstanding save down to her left from F.Bostock’s effort.

The visitors made in 0-4 with a shot from distance after Raxter did well to block the initial move, unfortunately to see the ball land at the feet of Pheena Smith who stroked the ball home.

Saff Boswell and Ellie Nash came on for F. Bostock and Sewell with 20 minutes to play before Hednesford got their fifth, Ria Elsmore directing her header well from a corner.

Jess Kenny shot wide late on with what would have been a deserved goal for the hosts but despite their best efforts, it wasn’t to be.

A fine effort with plenty of positives in what was always going to be a tough afternoon but the Robins can hold their heads high and be proud of their approach.

Player of the match Tallulah Brown, Opposition Player of the Match centre half Kimberley Tsiga, who gave a commanding display.

Next up for Evesham is the County Cup second round when Wolverley Women visit on Sunday, November 15, KO 2pm.