Evesham United 1-1 Bracknell Town
Tuesday 25th November 2025
Pitching In Southern League Premier South

Match Report by Harry Stables

After beating Dorchester Town 4-1 on Saturday, Evesham made one change from their impressive winning display, with Brandon Liggett coming into the mix, replacing Owen Foye (who scored their first goal for Evesham in the previous fixture). Evesham also welcomed back Lewis Middleton and Jyrel Bojang, the pair both being sidelined recently, and they started on the bench. A cold breeze was in the air on this late autumnal evening, and the floodlights were lit for the Clash of the Robins. Kick off got underway at the slightly delayed time of 20:00, due to travel disruptions for the away team.

Evesham found themselves penned back and under pressure early on, struggling to break out and test the Bracknell keeper. The Berkshire side displayed pace, skill and determination to push forward, test and get back and defend as they dominated possession. The referee was alert to the intensity from both sides, booking Jordan Esprit in the 15th minute. In turn, Liam Hutt also found himself in the book breaking down an attack on the right flank. Evesham conceded a corner towards the Club Shop, Bowerman whipped the ball deep into the box with George Knight’s high vertical header presenting itself nicely to Jordan Esprit, who acutely volleyed the ball across the face of goal directly into the bottom right corner by his right boot, breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute to the sound of the visiting vuvuzelas. Wright looked to provide a response, challenging Oualah in the air by the near post, but was adjudged to have fouled the visiting keeper. Before the break, a further bright spark was provided by Ethan Dunbar, who chested down a carefully headed pass from Kai Churchley, turned and curled an impressive shot from just outside the penalty arc, with his right foot, smashing it into the postage stamp of Oualah’s goal, who sprang into action and somehow got his right hand to turn it away. Bracknell in front, but Evesham were showing sparks of life.

The temperature continued to drop as frost made its way onto the pitch, as Bracknell got us back underway, and Evesham’s positivity made itself known. Attacking the Les Mulins stand, Churchely again was looking to provide an assist, this time combining with Andre Wright inside the Bracknell box, who poked the ball down low, forcing Oualah to dive down to his right. Evesham continued to sustain pressure with Bowerman’s acrobatic shot going high and wide. Our Captain Amer Awadh seemed to always be guarded by two royal blue shirts; Amartey found himself in the book for being a fan of Amer’s shirt. With opportunities sparse a free kick was taken by Andre to the right of the mouth of goal on the edge of the 18 yard box, Bracknell’s wall blocked this resulting in a corner flicked in by Dunbar at the Club Shop, Ethan’s second bite of the cherry presented itself nicely to Levi Steele as the Spiers and Hartwell Jubliee stadium thought Levi had netted his 12th goal this season watching the ball narrowly roll past the left post towards the opposing corner flag. The ball remaining in play, Patterson remained alert, chased and crossed the ball, which struck the raised hand of George Knight, looking to protect his face from the cross. After a moment’s thought, the referee listened to the clamours of handball and awarded the penalty. Oualah poised against Wright. Wright calmly tucked the ball neatly into the bottom left corner, equalising for Evesham. Wright now finds himself on 10 goals in all competitions this season, only second to Levi’s 11 goals, not a bad spot to be in. The Robin’s golden boot race remains very open!

Frustrated but still working hard, a very late break from Bracknell almost restored their lead in the 92nd minute. Amartey chipped in a curling shot just outside the left of Harris’ box, ricocheting off the right post, the follow-up shot was skied. A break in extra time followed with an immensely brave challenge at the death between the young QPR loanee Jack McDowell (who provided an impressive, mature and unassuming defensive display across the 90 minutes) and his centre back pairing, Noah McCann. The latter sustained a cut to the head and was taken off the pitch to hospital. Everyone at Evesham United wishes Noah a speedy recovery. This result gave both teams an extra point and a solid test. Both teams remain in the same spot they found themselves in before kick-off: Evesham United in 10th place, whilst Bracknell Town remain in the relegation zone in 21st place. A very well-drilled side, their position in the table does not do Bracknell Town justice. We wish them all the best for the remainder of the season.

ROBINS STARTING X1:
1 Alex Harris (GK), 2 Liam Hutt, 4 Josh Barlow, 5 Ethan Patterson, 7 Aaron Heap, 10 Amer Awadh (C), 11 Brandon Liggett (25’ Yellow, 64′ 9 Levi Steele), 12 Andre Wright, 87’ 17 Ethan Dunbar, 19 Cameron Walters, 20 Kai Churchley (64′ 8 Dani González-Birchall)

ROBINS UNUSED SUBSTITUTES:
13 Brendan Beard (GK), 16 Lewis Middleton, 15 Jyrel Bojang

BRACKNELL TOWN STARTING XI:
1 Zaki Oualah (GK), 2 Ethan Burden, 3 Gabe George, 4 Jack McDowell, 5 Noah McCann (90’+10 18 George Franklin), 8 George Knight, 10 Shae Hutchinson (70’ 17 Francis Amartey Yellow 80’), 9 Jordan Esprit 27’ (15’ Yellow, 70’ 7 Joe Grant), 11 Seb Bowerman (C), 15 Giovanni McGregor, 19 Charlie Kennedy (52’ 6 Jeanmal Prosper)

BRACKNELL UNUSED SUBSTITUTES:
20 Ody Alfa

ATTENDANCE: 237