Match Report: Evesham United 1-3 Plymouth Parkway

Saturday 229th August 2026 Southern League Premier South

Evesham United slumped to a second successive league defeat, losing 3-1 to high-flying Plymouth Parkway at the Spiers and Hartwell Stadium. The Robins gave a debut to young goalkeeper Oscar Varney, on loan from Coventry City, and named their other Sky Blues loanee, Jake Stretton, on the bench.

After a quiet and even opening, the game exploded into life in the 17th minute when, if it wasn’t for the brilliance of Parkway keeper Dearing, Evesham would have taken the lead. After a bad error by Parkway centre-half Toby Dean, Robins striker Sopuru Obieri surged into the penalty area and had his low shot well saved by Dearing, who then brilliantly kept out close-range follow-up efforts from Amer Awadh and Brandon Liggett.

This escape seemed to galvanise Parkway rather than Evesham, and they seized control of the game. In the 23rd minute, Rio Garside glanced a header narrowly wide after a fine cross from Joel Sullivan, and then, in the 26th minute, they got the goal that they had threatened for some time. A free kick sent in by Garside found Reece Thompson at the far post, and he nodded it down for Joel Sullivan to poke home.

Parkway continued to look the more assured and dangerous side, and they almost increased their lead in the 37th minute when Callum Hall, spotting Varney off his line, attempted an audacious lob from 35 yards that sailed narrowly wide. The Robins may have been relieved that they were only a goal down at the break.

Parkway started the second half in confident style and soon increased their lead. In the 53rd minute, Toby Down found Will Sullivan in space on the right and his long looping cross was nodded in at the far post by Rocky Neal.

This second goal by the Devon side was the signal for Robins boss Mike Ford to bring on Kai Churchley to partner Obieri up front and, for a period, momentum shifted Evesham’s way. Parkway remained dangerous, but in the 61st minute the Robins reduced the arrears with Jyrel Bojang drilling in from close range after Dearing parried Obieri’s low effort. The chance came from a clever free kick routine.

For a period, the game felt much more in the balance and the Robins came agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 73rd minute. After a surging run by Josh McConnell, he found substitute Hutt free on the right, who cut it back to Awadh. The Robins skipper then put in a superb cross that Kai Churchley headed narrowly over the bar.

However, Parkway put the game to bed with their third goal in the 75th minute. Not for the first time, and after Barlow had given the ball away with an under-hit pass, Varney was found way off his line, and Neal brilliantly chipped him from 35 yards for his second goal of the game. Parkway then saw the game out with few alarms to claim their third win of the season.

The Robins’ slide down the table continues, and they will look to quickly return to winning ways when they make the short trip to Gloucester City on Bank Holiday Monday.

ROBINS STARTING X1:
13 Oscar Varney (GK), 3 Owen Foye, 4 Josh Barlow, 6 Ioan Richards, 7 Aaron Heap (56′ 9 Kai Churchley), 8 Josh McConnell, 10 Amer Awadh (C), 11 Brandon Liggett (46′ 14 MacKenzie Jake Stretton), 15 Jyrel Bojang, 19 Rocco Sughayer (59′ 2 Liam Hutt), 20 Sopuru Obieri (79′ 18 Daniel Hanson)

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES:
1 Brendan Beard (GK)

ATTENDANCE: 308

Match Report: Nick Hadley
Photos: Emily Cook