Bromsgrove Rvrs 1, Evesham Utd 3

by Mervyn Collins

NEXT appearing at a Premiership ground near you - Northamptonshire referee Mike Cairns who smiled his way through Tuesday's Worcestershire derby yet left the field to meet officials from both clubs with furrowed brows.

Luckily, the inept officiating of an FA Premier League assistant referee, didn't have a bearing on the result that saw the Robins retain their unbeaten Division One West record on opposition grounds on a night when the only threat to United's superiority came when the official adjudged that Steve Hands had tripped Paul Szewczyk four minutes into the second half.

It's a decision not to dwell on, suffice to say that Cairns indicated what he had seen in an over zealous manner before the Rovers man blasted the ball straight down the middle as Tim Clarke moved to his right.

Chances were scarce at both ends although Evesham took the two that came their way in the opening 16 minutes.

Grant Pinkney volleyed in the opener after 11 minutes on his 99th appearance for the Robins, while Ravi Sangha celebrated his first start with a neat finish five minutes later to give Dave Busst's men the perfect start.

The United boss had given Sangha a starting berth alongside Wesley Joyce at the expense of Jermaine Clarke and the pair worked well together without really giving themselves the chance to add to their goal totals.

Joyce's typical surging run saw a left-footer flash a yard wide, while goalkeeper Clarke's only real alarm saw him turn a cross from Marcus Jackson over the crossbar as the interval approached.

Cairns then took matters into his own hands when pointing to the spot and Rovers sensed a comeback. But, United withstood a short spell of pressure with Lee Knight, Anthony Watson and Hands in solid form at the back.

There should have been a penalty for the visitors when Joyce was shoved in the back just as he seemed set to touch in a cross from Simeon Williams but the referee waved aside appeals.

However, justice was seen to be done when Joyce's free-kick midway through the half was blocked by the wall but Gavin O'Toole blasted a 25-yard beauty into the top corner from the rebound to restore his side's two-goal cushion.

There was still time for Cairns to leave both managers shaking their heads in disbelief at a couple more ludicrous decisions on a night when Evesham made it four wins and two draws from six away matches and it just leaves them to get their home record straightened out as they stand on the tails of the leading pack after Tuesday's triumph.

Southern League

Division One West (top)

P W D L F A Pts

Taunton 12 8 2 2 24 13 26

Mangotsfield 12 7 3 2 27 14 24

Sutton C 12 7 2 3 17 11 23

Rothwell 12 6 3 3 20 16 21

Evesham 10 6 2 2 19 11 20

Stourport 12 6 1 5 21 12 19

Clevedon 11 6 0 5 18 17 18

Ashford 9 5 2 2 19 13 17

Bromsgrove 11 4 5 2 16 13 17

Brackley 12 4 4 4 20 14 17

Yate Town 11 4 3 4 16 12 15

Marlow 11 4 3 4 21 21 15