Robins Draw with Basingstoke Town

Evesham United 1-1 Basingstoke Town
Tuesday 12th August 2025
Pitching In Southern League Premier South

Match Report by Simon Purfield

Evesham United welcomed Basingstoke Town for their first Step Three fixture in thirteen years. The visitors, with a loud set of supporters cheering them on, started the match strongly and took the lead in just the fifth minute when Robbie Gallagher capitalised on hesitation in the Evesham defence, nudging the ball home from close range.

Basingstoke maintained control throughout the opening stages, dictating possession and forcing Evesham onto the back foot. The home side struggled to settle but began to find their footing as the first half progressed. Their first significant chance came in the 18th minute when Aaron Heap delivered a cross that Levi Steele headed over the bar. The hosts’ most promising opportunity in the opening period arrived at the midway point when Heap and Will Owens combined to set up captain Amer Awadh, whose effort narrowly missed the target.

Basingstoke responded with an attacking move of their own in the 28th minute, as Reid and Johnson-Schuster linked up to create a dangerous chance that was ultimately turned behind for a corner. Another lapse in Evesham’s defence allowed a threatening cross to go unchallenged seven minutes later, but the home side managed to recover without conceding further.

Evesham showed more intent in the final third of the half but were unable to engineer any clear-cut opportunities before the break.

During the interval, Evesham manager Mike Ford opted for a double substitution, bringing on Ethan Dunbar and Ryan Hayes in place of Aaron Heap and Sam Bailey.
The second half began with Basingstoke on the front foot, forcing Evesham goalkeeper Jenson Kilroy into a smart save and firing a free kick into the defensive wall. As the match reached the hour mark, Basingstoke continued to exert pressure, winning two corners in quick succession, though neither resulted in a goal.

Evesham grew into the contest and found their equaliser midway through the second half. Will Owens created problems down the left flank, delivering a cross that deflected kindly into the path of Andre Wright, who made no mistake, firing in off the underside of the bar to level the score.

With twenty minutes remaining, former Premier League striker Charlie Austin entered the fray and immediately tested Evesham’s goalkeeper, Jenson Kilroy, with a sharp effort that was well turned behind for a corner. The match continued at a brisk pace, and Levi Steele nearly broke the deadlock with a volley at the far post after a superb cross from Will Owens.

As the game moved into stoppage time, Austin once again threatened, meeting a cross with a close-range header that narrowly cleared the bar.

The contest proved to be fast-paced and entertaining, played out in warm conditions where either side might have claimed victory. Ultimately, the draw represented a valuable point for Evesham United against strong opposition.

Next up, it’s Havant and Waterlooville at the Spiers and Hartwell Stadium on Saturday, kick-off 3 pm.

ROBINS STARTING X1:
1 Jenson Kilroy (GK), 2 Sam Bailey (20 Ryan Hayes 46′), 4 Joshua Barlow, 6 Ioan Richards, 7 Aaron Heap (17 Ethan Dunbar 46′), 9 Levi Steele, 10 Amer Awadh (c) (15 Jyrel Bojang 53′), 12 Andre Wright 66′ (11 Brandon Liggett 86′), 14 Will Owens, 18 Jamar Smith (16 Lewis Middleton 61′), 19 Cameron Walters

ROBINS UNUSED SUBSTITUTES:

ATTENDANCE: 575