Vaughan dismissed as United are beaten (From Evesham Journal)

Vaughan dismissed as United are beaten

12:30pm Thursday 16th April 2009

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EVESHAM UNITED 0, MERTHYR TYDFIL 2.

MERTHYR became the first side to complete a league double over Evesham, thanks to a goal after just two minutes and another in second-half stoppage time.

To complete a miserable afternoon for the Robins, goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan was sent off at the death for an alleged head-butt on Merthyr substitute Gareth Cullimore.

With Aston Villa and England midfielder Gareth Barry watching on the terraces, the visitors opened the scoring in their first attack.

Steve Williams netting with a low free-kick after Paul Keddle had been fouled on the left.

Moments later, leading scorer Craig Stiens should have doubled The Martyr’s lead but somehow shot over from six yards.

Despite losing influential defender Steve Luckett through injury, Evesham enjoyed a purple patch at the start of the second-half. Joe Clarke planted a header on the roof of the Merthyr net and Danny Scheppel’s first-time drive flew over.

But that’s as good as it got and, in the last action of the game, Merthyr wrapped the points up with a second goal.

Vaughan was shown a straight red for his misdemeanour and Mike Jones beat stand-in keeper Clarke from the resulting penalty kick.

EVESHAM UNITED: Vaughan, Watson, Hyde, Hodnett, Luckett (Wood 44), Blake, Joe Clarke, Scheppel, Ager (Hayden 45), Jermaine Clarke (Davis 69), Lennon. Subs not used: Fitter and Lutz.

Attendance: 211.

EVESHAM UNITED 1, FARNBOROUGH 2.

LEAGUE leaders Farnborough had to survive a nervous last 15 minutes before seeing off Evesham United’s challenge in the British Gas Business Premier Division.

It looked plain-sailing for the title favourites, who held a comfortable 2-0 lead early in the second-half.

But Evesham stunned their hosts by pulling a goal back on 75 minutes and went on to force the issue for the remainder of the game.

Things went according to plan for Farnborough, who made the breakthrough on 18 minutes.

Nic Ciardini got to the by-line before pulling the ball back to Mo Harkin, whose first-time shot gave keeper Nathan Vaughan no chance.

The lead was doubled five minutes after the break when Jamie Whisken got on the end of Darren Wheeler’s free-kick and beat Vaughan with a glancing header.

The game took a twist when Evesham reduced the deficit.

Michael Hayden heading Joe Clarke’s free-kick into the path of substitute Robert Ager for the youngster to net his first Robins goal.

Paul West’s side came within a whisker of snatching a draw but Danny Lennon’s deflected drive struck a post with Farnborough keeper Richard Barnard going the wrong way.

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