A STEVE Duncan goal after just seven minutes turned out to be Evesham United's winner in a 1-0 victory against Ashford Town.

It extended Evesham's unbeaten run in Southern League Division One West to five matches.

Ashford, who dumped Evesham out of the FA Trophy two weeks ago, never looked like repeating the feat and the margin of victory was far easier than the scoreline suggests.

The goal came about when Gavin O'Toole's corner was only half cleared as far as Duncan and, in one movement, he turned and curled his shot into the top corner of the net.

United went in search of a second before half-time and on two occasions Ravi Sangha went close to doing just that.

With the conditions getting worse by the minute, the second-half was a struggle for both sides.

Even so, United still had their moments and Paul Burgess, in the Ashford goal, denied Duncan with his feet.

And Wes Joyce raced clear only to shoot across the face of an unguarded goal.

Ashford mounted only one worthwhile strike at goal and that saw leading scorer Scott Todd flash a volley just wide.

To complete a disappointing afternoon for the visitors, they had substitute Andy Frost sent off in the last minute for striking out at Robins' skipper Lee Knight.

United: T Clarke 7, Watson 8, Pinkney 7, *Knight 9, Hands 6, O'Toole 6, Blake 6, Duncan 6, Sangha 7 (J Clarke 65, 5), Joyce 7, S Williams 7 (Carns 84). Subs not used: D Williams, Fitter. Attendance: 143.