AFTER both clinching play-off promotion last season, Evesham United and Sporting Club Inkberrow kicked off the warm-ups for their new campaigns with a preseason match against one-another.
Inkberrow clinched victory on the day against the higher-division side, as goals from Luke Bastable and Jack Tolley did the job against Ethan Dunbar's chipped strike.
The Robins came close in two similar attacks, early on at The Spiers and Hartwell Stadium.
Both times they broke free down the right and crossed into the centre, the first had just too much on it for new signing Ethan Dunbar to get to it and knock it home, while the second saw the ball fired over Gabriel Bajrami's bar.
Evesham continued to apply early pressure, before Inkberrow took the advantage on the 35 minute mark. A foul just past the centre circle allowed Inkberrow to send in a looping set piece which was pounced on and nodded home by Luke Bastable.
Evesham's newest signing Ethan Dunbar - who joined the club from Bishops Cleeve - then drew it all level.
The pacey forward broke past the defensive line, took the ball down, and calmly chipped Bajrami in the Inkberrow net to even things up.
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Both sides continued to knock on the door in the second half, until Inkberrow sealed the victory.
Star man Jack Tolley picked up from where he left last season to put the ball past Alex Harris and hand the visitors the victory.
The Robins continued to knock on the door as the game wound down but Inkberrow stood firm and walked away victors.
Evesham will next travel away to Stratford Town on Saturday, July 5, while Inkberrow take on the first home game of their preseason matches, hosting Walsall's under-18 side on Tuesday, July 8.
