Calor League Division One South and West

Shortwood United 2

Evesham United 0

SHORTWOOD moved up to sixth and are now just a point outside the play-offs after a brace from midfielder Adam Price, writes Jim Cunneen.

A delighted Shortwood co-manager John Evans said: “We followed up Wednesday’s win against Swindon Supermarine with a thoroughly professional performance.

“ Rico (Marc Richards) was awesome again and Adam Price showed a lot of bottle with his two goals."

The pitch was always going to be soft and make life difficult for Shortwood’s usual free-flowing style, but it is a testament to Mark Webb and his team that the pitch was as good as it was.

Evesham only had two attempts on target in the whole game and the first of those came in the sixth minute when Williams fired in a free- kick that bounced in front of keeper Tom King and he had to be alert to take the ball cleanly.

Wood were by far the more adventurous and pushed forward at every opportunity and after 18 minutes a tremendous diagonal ball from John Cant set Ross Langworthy free, but his shot was blocked.

The game had one moment of real controversy when after 25 minutes Cant was set free but appeared to be cynically blocked by the last man, but despite Shortwood’s protests play continued.

Cant had a shot saved by keeper Bateman and the rebound hit Price, but the ball was cleared off the line.

Evesham then had a very lucky escape when a Cant cross was headed clear but hit another defender and the ball fell nicely to Price, but he somehow side-footed the ball wide from six yards. Langworthy then had an effort cleared off the line before Shortwood finally took the lead after 40 minutes.

Matt Bennett’s cross was tipped on to the bar by the keeper and Duncan Culley pushed the ball to Langworthy who turned the ball back into the six yard box for Price to push home – despite former Shortwood favourite Alton Axton’s despairing lunge.

The second half continued in much the same vein.

Ashley Thomas flicked a header wide and Culley fired over after good work from Richards and Cant before Shortwood killed the game off after an hour.

Culley robbed a defender and pushed the ball inside to Price who held off his marker before shooting low into the corner passed the advancing Bateman.

Sam Avery and sub Saul Halpin combined well, but Halpin’s cross just eluded everybody and Halpin was then denied by a fine last- ditch tackle.

In added time, sub Kevin Slack turned in the six yard box and got his shot away despite extreme pressure, but Bateman just hung on to the ball.

SHORTWOOD: King, Avery, Bennett, Thomas, Coates, Richards, Price, Parrott (Hancock 74), Langworthy (Halpin 64), Cant (Slack 71), Culley.

Subs not used: Brown, Sykes.

Star Man: Marc Richards.