Match Report: Crusaders Women 1-3 Evesham United Women
Sunday 30th August 2026 – West Midlands Women’s Regional League Division One South
Evesham United Women travelled to Shirley Town FC to take on Crusaders Women in their first away game of the season.
Manager Mark Taylor had to make a number of changes for the trip, with a handful of players unavailable. Yaz Gachette dropped in to Right Back, with Zoe Bloss switching to the Left. Jess Kenny’s welcome return came in the midfield, with youngster Ella Parkinson joining the forward line.
In very changeable conditions, Evesham were on top from the off, pressing well and being first to most balls. It didn’t take Evesham long to open the scoring, with Natalie Sewell closing down a Crusaders defender, winning possession and finding Parkinson, who shot into the far corner of the penalty area to make it 0-1.
The home side’s biggest threat was coming from corners, but the visitors dealt with these well; Freya Bostock headed away successfully a couple of times as the well-organised defence held firm. At the other end, F. Bostock, Sewell and Parkinson were causing problems with their direct running at and in behind the defenders, and it came as no surprise when Evesham doubled their lead. Captain Chopper Pitts gained possession at the back and burst across the halfway line before firing a great ball into Parkinson on the right who’s cross come shot found its way past the Crusaders keeper at the near post to make it 0-2.
With Liv Tresigne, Tazmin Hayward and Jess Kenny combative in midfield, little was seen of the home side in attack, with Pitts and Kyra Bostock always on hand to deal with any advances, leaving Goalkeeper Sydney McKenzie relatively untroubled. The visitors had further chances throughout the half to extend the lead. F. Bostock, Hayward and Sewell would all have felt they should have done better when well placed.
Evesham’s third goal came when good play between Bloss, Kenny and Sewell saw Hayward in a great position, but an unselfish square ball to F. Bostock resulted in the forward firing home for a 0-3 HT lead.
The second half started with the home side looking to get an early goal and get back into the game. Balls over the top kept the Evesham defence busy, and keeper McKenzie was required to be alert in coming off her line. That said, the Robins still looked the most likely to score, with Sewell hitting the post before F. Bostock was also thwarted in an almighty goalmouth scramble.
Evesham were dealt a blow when Hayward was unable to continue, and she made way for Debutant Bea Harding, who came on at Right Back with Gachette moving back into her regular Midfield role. Saff Boswell came on for Parkinson and within minutes hit the post before further chances for Sewell, F. Bostock and Boswell went astray.
The home side were still probing, looking for a way back in, which duly arrived from the penalty spot after a challenge from Pitts in the penalty area saw Danielle Selmes make it 1-3. In the dying moments, Crusaders almost pulled another back, but it wasn’t to be as it ended in a fantastic away win for the Robins.
At the full-time whistle, there was a small coming together as the players shook hands; some pushing and shoving, flailing arms, ultimately ended in Evesham’s Defender K. Bostock seeing red.
Player of the match Zoe Bloss.
Next game is our Adobe Women’s FA Cup match against Walsall FC Women at The Spiers & Hartwell Stadium on Sunday 06.09.26. 2 pm KO.
It’s a BIG game with a BIG crowd expected!
Match Report: Simon Corbett
