THE harsh realities of football management couldn't have been so amply illustrated at Lodge Road last Sat-urday, writes Mervyn Collins.

Cruising to what appeared to be a winning start for new boss Dave Busst, Evesham conceded three goals in eight minutes as their fellow strugglers snatched a dramatic point . . . and they could so easily have taken all three.

When Sean Flynn superbly headed the visitors into a 3-0 lead after 57 minutes, there was surely no one in the crowd who would have believed that Town could get back into the match. However, once substitute Tom Collett had trimmed the deficit to two goals 12 minutes from time, the tide turned in a most amazing fashion.

Yate had rarely troubled Damien Beattie yet the goalkeeper conceded three for a second successive away game after Sutton Coldfield had hit back from two down to end Evesham League Cup hopes last month.

Beattie might claim that the equaliser from Matt Rawlins after 86 minutes didn't cross the line but it was panic stations in the visitors' back line after Collett followed up his opener with a second on 80 minutes.

Linton Bailey's horrible miscue inside the penalty area was the prelude to Rawlins' saver and it could have been worse had the same player not skewed wide when sent clear in an incredible climax.

Nathan Jukes twice went close to hitting a winner from distance, while Flynn also headed over as United suddenly realised there was a game to be won.

It had all looked plain sailing despite a dodgy opening half-hour when the United goal suffered a couple of close shaves.

There was precious little action at the opposite end but that all changed once Craig Pountney had replaced the injured Paul Oakey.

Flynn's 34th minute was wiped out for offside but, when Marc Burrow was shoved in the box six minutes later, Jukes effortlessly slotted in the resultant spot-kick.

Makeshift striker Simon Marsh spurned a great chance soon after the restart to double his side's lead when Tony Court misjudged a long ball. However, the goalkeeper got a vital touch as Marsh seemed set to slot the ball into an empty net.

The former Stourport man didn't have long to wait to net his first goal for the Robins when he bravely headed past Court after 51 minutes after Flynn had flicked on a free-kick from Jukes.

When Flynn nodded in Smith's far post cross Busst must have thought this management game was easy. Far from it!

He might have regretted his decision to replace Marsh, who had held the ball up superbly all afternoon, with Danny James with 23 minutes left, while Yate's trio of replacements certainly earned their dues with ex-Hallen man Collett claiming the leading role as Busst's promise of a dream start almost turned into a nightmare.