THE pre-season battle of the Robins went the way of Cheltenham Town at Evesham United but the 3-0 scoreline flattered the full-time visitors.

A brace from Danny Wright and a goal from Mohamed Eisa were enough to secure victory for Gary Johnson’s League Two outfit at the Jubilee Stadium.

But the hosts deserved a goal and saw a first-half penalty from Adam Mann saved by keeper Rhys Lovett.

The first 15 minutes were fiercely contested between both sides and tempers flared despite the match being a friendly.

The breakthrough came when midfielder Kyle Storer lofted a ball into the box which was headed down by Will Boyle and finished well by Wright.

Evesham had a chance to get back into the game when Sellars was adjudged to have handled in the box but Mann was denied by Lovett.

Cheltenham had chances to double their lead in the first half with two Harry Pell free-kicks stinging the palms of keeper Kevin Sawyer.

Evesham, having absorbed pressure well in the first half, put the Cheltenham goal under siege.

Lovett saved well from Mark Magee’s free-kick as the pressure built.

Magee also had a fine shot tipped around the post.

But a moment of brilliance from Wright gave the Robins a two-goal cushion.

O’Shaughnessy’s floated ball was met by a superb volley from the front man leaving the keeper with no chance.

Eisa made sure of the win for a strong Cheltenham line-up with a curling effort into the top corner.

Evesham host Worcester City in the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup semi-finals tonight (7.45pm).

Evesham: (first half) Sawyer; Dovey, Williams, Odiero; Lymn, Hancock, Liddiard, Haskayne, Fahy; Peel, Mann; (second half) Gilder; Dovey, Williams (Brain 82), Bennett; Gray, Brown, Liddiard (N Stanley 67), Bryan, Binns; Mann (Magee 54), Campbell.

Attendance: 550.

Tenants Gloucester City host League Two side Newport County at the Jubilee Stadium on Saturday (3pm).