IT was a coming-of-age performance from Evesham United according to boss Mike Ford after the 2-0 win at league leaders Sholing on Tuesday.

It was a performance full of grit from The Robins, who had to overcome their fair share of adversity in the game.

They had Alfie Dunn sent off with ten minutes to play and had to also battle with refereeing decisions that seemingly went against them and Ford was also less than impressed with the tactics of the opposition.

"We played like a group of men which was really pleasing," said Ford.

"Sholing tried to intimidate us, they tried to get our players sent off. Their bench were a disgrace. 

"It felt like they had influenced the referee and his decisions. Alfie Dunn never deserved to get sent off, it was an embarrassment and I'm saying this on the back of a victory.

"There was lots going on but our lads stuck to the task and they were absolutely brilliant." 

There was video footage of Sholing's Fatah Makhloufi hitting the back of Charles Wise' head during a melee between both sets of players before he was replaced in the 74th minute and ten minutes from the end, Evesham's Dunn was sent-off.

Ford added: "There was a tackle made in the second-half that sparked a bit of a melee. Charlie Wise then gets punched in the back of the head from behind and then he has been spat at and the three officials didn't see any of it. There should have been a red card.

"And then they get involved with Alfie as he kicks the ball from under the player, the referee was going to give a yellow and then the linesman chooses to get involved in this decision and he tells the referee to send him off. So why he got involved in that and not the other decisions was strange."

But regardless, it was a massive three points for Evesham in their quest to reach the Southern League Division One South play-offs

But Ford has challenged his players to use the result to push them forward in the next few games.

"It was a fantastic effort and there will be lots of teams looking at that result and wondering how we managed to pull it off," said Ford.

"It's an encouraging victory, but more so the manner of it than anything else. 

"Now we need to use that win and build some momentum. Because if we can go to the top side in the league and win 2-0, it shows you are a good team, so we need to use that belief and carry it on."