Evans planning to strengthen his strike-force for next season
MANAGER Jeff Evans is under no illusions about his number one priority this summer — rebuilding Dawlish Town's depleted strikeforce.
A season that started with so much promise for the Seasiders ended with a 2-1 defeat at Willand Rovers on Monday night.
Dawlish are still guaranteed a top ten finish — ninth if Brislington fail to beat Larkhall Athletic tonight — but the mid-season loss of forwards Joe Bushin and Jules Emati-Emati cost them dear.
Bushin blasted three hat-tricks in the first two months of the season and was promptly snapped up by Southern League side Tiverton Town.
Emati-Emati, meanwhile, moved a step higher and signed for Conference South side Dorchester Town — completely dismantling the strike partnership Evans had hoped would fire his side into Toolstation Western League title contention.
"I'm happy that we have made progress this season," said Evans. "But I didn't count on losing both of my strikers Joe (Bushin) and Jules (Emati-Emati).
"Jules is back now but I know I need a striker for next season — that is my top priority."
Emati-Emati returned to Sandy Lane for the last month of the season, but Tivvy boss Martyn Rogers won't want to lose Bushin.
The former Liverton youngster top-scored for the Yellows with 14 goals, and was one of the few highlights of an otherwise disappointing season that ended in relegation on Saturday.
Bushin will be a hard act to replace this summer, but Bristol-based Evans will no doubt be exhausting his endless list of contacts in an attempt to do so.
Despite the mid-table finish, there have been several plus points for the Seasiders this season that Evans can build on.
Their run to the last 32 of the FA Vase earned the club valuable extra revenue in prize-money, while several local youngsters have come in and shown great potential for the future.
Left-winger Sean Adderley is a prime example, having signed from South Devon League side Kingskerswell & Chelston, while full-back Luke Martin and goalkeeper Luke Purnell have also become first-team regulars.
Bringing in top prospects from local football, and turning them into Western League players, isn't easy.
Finding them is one thing, but persuading them to leave a club full of friends, along with the burden of extra travelling time involved, makes it increasingly difficult.
But the success of Adderley this term, and Bushin before him, shows it can be done.
At Willand on Monday night, meanwhile, Dawlish deserved at least a draw from the game — and were a minute away from getting one before Rovers' Mike Humphreys got on the end of an Ian Patchett cross to score an 89th minute winner for the hosts.
Dean Stamp had fired Willand into a first-half lead with a phenomenal 25-yard volley, but Dawlish equalised eight minutes after the restart through industrious midfielder Kris Davis.
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