Match Report: Evesham United 0-0 Berkhamsted
Saturday 12th August 2026 Southern League Premier South Division
Evesham and Berkhamsted played out a keenly fought goalless draw at a sunny but blustery Spiers and Hartwell Stadium.
Varney returned in goal, and Obieri in attack, as the only two changes in the Evesham line-up from the previous game at Belper, but it was Berkhamsted who established an early grip on the game. Their front three of Blake, German and Kurran-Browne caused the Robins defence plenty of problems, particularly down the wide channels. Only good defending, and some wasteful use of the ball, prevented the Comrades from Hertfordshire translating dangerous possession into clear chances.
After the first quarter, however, Evesham started to get a foothold in the game and both Churchley and Obieri attempted long-range efforts. One was saved at the second attempt by Comrades keeper Graczyk and the other drifted wide. A very late flag denied Obieri too when it looked as if he had sprung the offside trap.
In the 24th minute, and following clever interplay with Obieri, Kai Churchley fizzed a shot narrowly wide of the Berkhamsted goal with the keeper beaten. This came during a period of play when the Robins were shading the game, with Liggett, Heap and Foye prominent in most of their more dangerous moves. Clear-cut chances were still at a premium though, and the Comrades remained a threat on the break. Richards and Bojang, ably assisted by confident goalkeeping from Varney, kept them at bay until the half time break.
The second half continued in a similar vein to the first, with a lot of attacking intent from both sides but few clear-cut chances created. Promising moves and set plays often came to nothing.
However, in the 60th minute, Robins keeper Varney was called into his first serious action of the game, making a good sprawling save to deny German as the Comrades striker wriggled free in the box.
With thirty minutes remaining, Robins manager Mike Ford made three changes. Conteh, Sughayer and McConnell came on for Barlow, Hutt and Obieri and the substitutes immediately injected fresh energy. In the 63rd minute, after good work by the lively Heap, Sughayer almost put the Robins ahead, cleverly turning a defender in the box and forcing Graczyk into a fine low save.
The game became much more end-to-end, and in the 75th minute Varney made a brilliant save, tipping over a swerving 30-yard effort from Berkhamsted’s outstanding Harry Rush.
Chances came and went at both ends. A Berkhamsted shot was deflected narrowly wide, and then another good save from Varney denied Rush before, in the 84th minute, the Robins striker Conteh headed a good chance wide when found in space close to goal by Churchley’s superb cross.
Berkhamsted finished the stronger of the two sides, pressing for a late winner, and their lively substitute Sekeyere headed narrowly wide. The under pressure Evesham defence cleared several shots and crosses, but they saw out the five minutes of added time to secure a valuable point and their first draw of the season. FA Cup action resumes next weekend, with the Robins travelling to near neighbours Redditch United in the Second Qualifying Round”
ROBINS STARTING X1:
13 Oscar Varney (GK), 2 Liam Hutt (60′ 16 Rocco Sughayer), 3 Owen Foye, 4 Josh Barlow (60′ 8 Josh McConnell), 6 Ioan Richards, 7 Aaron Heap (74′ 14 MacKenzie Jake Stretton), 9 Kai Churchley, 10 Amer Awadh (C), 11 Brandon Liggett, 15 Jyrel Bojang, 20 Sopuru Obieri (60′ 12 Thomas Conteh)
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES:
1 Brendan Beard (GK)
ATTENDANCE: 435
Match Report: Nick Hadley
Photos: Emily Cook
