SIX points out of a possible 18 in the past month is hardly promotion form and the manner of Monday's 1-0 defeat at Sutton Coldfield leaves Dave Busst with plenty to ponder, writes Mervyn Collins.

Those half-a-dozen games have realised a paltry four goals but, amazingly, the Robins are still only one point adrift of new leaders Mangotsfield after only Yate Town of the top eight teams could manage a Bank Holiday maximum.

United have lost their last five matches against The Royals, who in turn have lost their last four home league matches during a sequence that has seen them win just two of their last ten Division One West matches and be deducted 11 points for playing an ineligible player.

Former Coles Lane striker Richard Ball was kept on the sidelines as part of the deal that took him to Evesham before Christmas and the absence of flu victim Lee Knight was another blow for boss Busst.

However, those selection problems can't hide the fact that it took the visitors until the final ten minutes to carve out a decent opening on a day when passion and invention were both sadly lacking.

The winning goal, when it arrived six minutes before the break, was tinged with controversy as an assistant referee judged that a header from the towering Exodus Geogaghan had crossed the line before the diminutive Leon Blake headed the ball out.

Gavin O'Toole's free-kick a minute later that brought an easy save from Justin Bray was United's solitary goal attempt of a dismal half and that statistic meant an interval call for Jermaine Clarke, who replaced the ineffective Simeon Williams.

Simon Fitter also replaced Marc Burrow but the changes did nothing to lift the sagging spirits of the United followers who sensed the worst.

The visitors enjoyed far more possession with Dave Adey only having to clutch a snap half-volley from Shaun Findlay but chances were scarce.

United's best move was started by third replacement Aaron Farrell, whose turn on halfway and pass to Danny Williams saw Blake drive in a shot from the far post cross but Clarke was just able to force the ball in and a defender hacked it to safety.

Farrell and Clarke were both then closed down in front of goal after Bray had flapped at a cross when an equaliser would have kept the Robins on top of the pile despite another sorry show.

A point was enough to keep United top of Division One West on New Year's Day afternoon when all their main rivals took three.

It was wet and windy and the hosts failed to make the most of the elements and were grateful that Zac Nedmovic managed to fire over an open goal from six yards nine minutes from time.

In-form Corby Town were lucky to be on terms early in the game as Richard Ball shot at keeper Richard Lavin's legs when a square ball might have been a better option and Burrow's bundled follow-up was hacked to safety.

Lavin made a reflex stop to keep out Steve Duncan's fifth minute header from O'Toole's free-kick but that was all the Robins had to offer as a poor final ball again let them down.

Adey touched the ball only twice in the first half - to take a goal kick and free kick - but United's superiority brought the solitary reward of Duncan's 45th minute angled drive.

The Evesham goalkeeper made two easy stops before finding himself helpless to keep out Brian Hardie's dead-ball strike seven minutes after the interval.

Adey touched over a wind-assisted free kick from Bret Darby before Danny Williams replaced Pinkney, surprisingly chosen alongside Ball in place of the flu-stricken Jermaine Clarke.

The substitute certainly injected some pace into United's play and his cross six minutes from time again lacked a final touch.

It was brother and fellow bench man Simeon who spurned a glorious late chance when placing a free header wide from six yards after Neil O'Sullivan's cross had been deflected high into the air.

Busst's men will be hoping to improve their home record in 2005 starting on Saturday against Bracknell Town (3pm) after winning just five of their 12 league fixtures at Common Road - a sequence of results that have realised a disappointing 19 points out of a possible 36.

Saturday's match is sponsored by Evesham Marina and the match ball sponsor is JC Autos of Honeybourne.

On Monday the youth team take on Redditch United in the Midland Floodlit Youth League, Southern Division (7.30pm).