FORMER Evesham United striker Ashley Edenborough scuppered his old club’s hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in Saturday’s 4-4 thriller with Highworth Town.

The Robins clawed back a pair of two-goal deficits thanks to braces for brothers Cory and Kye Simpson at the Jubilee Stadium before going a whisker away from an unlikely winner. 

Edenborough, scorer of Highworth’s second goal, notched 19 goals in 48 matches across two spells with United. 

The draw ended a run of four straight home defeats and was welcomed by manager Paul Collicutt despite feeling the match had been “must-win” in the build-up.

“The wind played a major part and from what I’ve heard it did at many other grounds locally,” said Collicutt. 

“It is quite open at our place and the wind went from one end to the other rather than across.

“We started reasonably well and Marley Thomas had a couple of chances early on but they grew in stature and the wind being against us made life tough.

“We got a lifeline when Cory Simpson put one away just before half-time and when we equalised I thought ‘right, game on’.

“Then we switched off. They went 4-2 up so to take a point was a big plus but we could have nicked it. 

“Ashley is a centre-forward who used to play here and he headed one off the line with about 30 seconds to go to stop us winning 5-4.

“He doesn’t tend to do that sort of thing. Still, he did this time and gave us a bit of well-natured banter in the bar afterwards.

“We lacked in certain areas. Credit to the lads, though, they showed a bit of character which was nice to see but we certainly have a few things to work on.”

Town settled to the windswept conditions and warranted the lead earned by Callum McGhee-Parsons firing home from 25 yards 14 minutes in.

The damage was doubled just past the half-hour mark when a weak clearance was intercepted by Edenborough who rounded keeper Harvey Rivers to tuck home. 

Somewhat against the run of play, the hosts hauled themselves back into contention when Cory Simpson found the net with a free-kick on the stroke of half-time. 

Kye Simpson then restored parity by finishing from 15 yards Sean Brain’s delightful pass but the joy was short lived. 

With 17 minutes left Rory Sproule headed home and worse was to follow when haphazard defending gifted Town a second in as many minutes through Toumani Sidibe.

But despite reeling from the double blow, Evesham seized upon the element of surprise themselves as Cory Simpson found room in a crowded box to poke in a lifeline that reinvigorated the home support. 

Kye Simpson then celebrated in style his first start in red and white, finishing Joe Tumelty’s pass as the clock struck 90. 

Evesham: Rivers, Dovey, Tunnicliff, Turley, Harding (Tumelty 84), Summers, Thomas (Tucker-Dixon 77), Haskayne, Brain (Davidge 70), K Simpson, C Simpson. Unused substitutes: Hancock, Humphreys.

Attendance: 219.