Gloucester City 6, Evesham Utd 1

by Mervyn Collins

INSTEAD of making it five wins out of five, United were hit for a shocking six as Andy Hoskins helped himself to a fabulous four.

There was no sign of the massacre that was the opening 30 minutes of the second half on Tuesday night as the visitors just caved in under a relentless onslaught of Gloucester pressure.

Hoskins banged in four goals in 20 minutes as the Robins were ripped apart.

Amazingly, after Neil Griffiths had nodded in City's sixth after 74 minutes, United striker Mark Shepherd could have had a hat-trick in the space of five minutes.

After firing in the goal of the game after a four-pass length of the field move, Shepherd was twice denied by desperate goalline clearances as Phil Mullen's side at last got their attacking act together.

They still looked decidedly dodgy at the back and only a fine stop by Tim Hart prevented the dangerous Jimmy Cox heaping more embarrassment on the visitors.

Cox it was who had opened the scoring after 11 minutes when Paul West was caught napping.

However, Evesham could have been two goals to the good had the unlucky Shepherd not seen a shot cleared off the line and Inderpaul Khela not headed Scott Mullen's centre over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

Khela failed just as miserably from another Mullen cross after 26 minutes before Hart acrobatically tipped aside a free-kick from Adie Harris.

Hart then touched a Harris shot on to the bar before Khela's last-ditch clearance prevented United going two behind on the stroke of half-time when Griffiths headed goalwards.

It only took five minutes for the lead to be doubled - and the annihilation to begin - when Hoskins tapped in after Hart could only deflect a cross into his path.

A mistake by Aaron Shanahan led to Cox outwitting Jay Powell three minutes later and Hoskins made it 3-0.

An error by Nathan Jukes saw Cox test Hart before Powell and Mullen left the fray after 63 minutes to be replaced by Mark Rollings and Paul Oakey.

Hart again denied Cox as City's domination continued but the ensuing corner ended with Hoskins blasting in his hat trick with the marking leaving a lot to be desired.

Khela's night got worse when he needlessly dragged down Cox and the

happy Hoskins made it 5-0.

It was six four minutes later before a home triple change at last ended the siege and Evesham's slick passing play of the opening 20 minutes returned but, apart from Shepherd's consolation, it was all too late.

United will be hoping for a swift return to winning ways when Rugby United visit Common Road on Saturday.

Full back Kris Sage could return after nursing a swollen ankle but the suspended Wesley Joyce won't be available until Tuesday night's Worcestershire Senior Cup semi-final when Moor Green are the visitors.

Extra-time and penalties will ensure there will be a winner on the night.

Saturday's match sponsor is Scholerton Bacon and the ball sponsor is P & D Wyld, Port Street, Evesham.