Halesowen Tn 2, Evesham Utd 0

SCOTT Mullen's relationship with the Common Road faithful scaled new depths after the strikers Tuesday night tantrum left the Robins with a mountain to climb in the second leg of the Worcestershire Senior Cup final.

The manager's son needlessly kicked out at Richard Colwell and Stephen Dorr's red card left the visitors to play the final 35 minutes a man short.

It took Town 15 minutes to exploit their advantage when Richard Leadbeater broke the deadlock, while a 25 yarder from Paul Banks that nestled in the left-hand corner of Tim Hart's goal meant double trouble on April 23.

"I didn't see the actual incident but Scott's apologised to me and I will be considering what action to take against him," said the United manager.

Mullen, like his teammates, had worked tremendously hard to go in at half-time on terms but his stupidity has left Evesham's hopes of lifting the County Cup for the first time hanging by a thread.

Hart made four decent stops to deny The Yeltz the lead before the goalkeeper could only parry Colwell's volley and former Common Roader Leadbeater kicked away the rebound.

A second from Banks prompted thoughts that the tie could be taken away from Mullen's men but they hung on although how Kirk Master missed an 83rd minute chance only he will know.

Paul Oakey dragged Evesham's best chance of the half wide a minute after Town's second but an early home goal in the second leg would set up an enthralling return after Easter.

Mullen had replaced the injured Grant Pinkney and the Robins looked lively up front without really testing Gary Hately in the Halesowen goal.

Nick Heath was a handful down the left, while Paul Oakey was always a willing runner on the opposite flank.

Evesham had a let-off after 15 minutes when Gavin Stone's header thumped against the underside of the bar but a goalless interval scoreline was well deserved for the lower ranked visitors.

There were claims from Inderpaul Khela for a push in the penalty area midway through the half and seemingly more valid reasons for Mr Dorr to point to the spot when Khela appeared to be tripped by Hately seconds before Mullen's dismissal.

"That was as blatant a penalty as you could wish to see and Brendan Phillips (Halesowen manager) thought the same," revealed an angry Mullen.

"It's not the first time this official has contrived to go against us. I don't whether or nor we would have scored in the second half but the players had worked tremendously hard and the referee took that away from us in ther space of a minute."

However, sixty seconds of action turned Tuesday's tie on its head and leaves Mullen senior with plenty to ponder if he's to repeat his success in 1999 with Kidderminster.

United visit Gresley on Saturday and Cinderford next Tuesday when Mark Shpeherd and Grant Pinkney are again both doubtful starters, while there's also concern over Jay Powell who received a nasty facial cut in the final minute on Tuesday.