DEFENDER Matt Williams has left Evesham United for Hungerford Town – but boss Paul Collicutt says the door remains open for a return.

The 23-year-old had been ever present this season prior to last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at AFC Totton but opted to take the chance of playing in National South – two levels above the Robins.

Collicutt said: “I got a call from Matt to say he would be joining Hungerford and it would have been hard to try to stand in his way.

“He leaves having done very well for us and goes there with our best wishes. I told him that and said I would always be on the end of the phone if he needs me.

“The door is always open if things don’t work out and it will be tough down there. It looks like they will be involved in a dogfight but Matt is a great character and I hope he does well.”

Evesham hit the road again with a Southern League West trip to fourth-placed Winchester City tomorrow (3pm).

Midweek wins for Winchester and Swindon Supermarine – the next team to visit the Jubilee Stadium – saw Robins drop to eighth but they trail Bristol Manor Farm in the second automatic promotion spot by just three points.

Adam Mann and Carl Brown are still facing fitness battles but Archie Haskayne comes back in following a one-match ban. Ashley Williams serves a suspension after being sent off at Totton.

“We got turned over there last season,” said Collicutt. “It is a big, open park and they have picked up some very good results so far with two good lads up top who score a fair few goals.

“It will be another hard game but it is all about us and how we turn up. We certainly put in a good shift at Totton on Saturday, which was nice to see.

“If we can find that same level of performance then we will give ourselves a chance.”

Midfielder Joe Turley could feature again after emerging unscathed from his comeback at Totton, despite playing more minutes than Collicutt had anticipated.

“To go out and perform in the way he did was incredible,” said Collicutt. “I cannot speak highly enough about how he goes about his business.

“On Saturday, I cannot think of an occasion where he gave away the ball. He put in a shift and it has been like having a new signing.

“The idea was to play him for about 50 or 60 minutes but with Ashley getting sent off, he was out there for longer.

“I kept asking whether he was alright and it was always a positive response. We got to 80 minutes and he started blowing so we chose to get him off.”