Atherstone Utd 1, Evesham Utd 2

JOURNAL sports editor, Mervyn Collins, coach Paul West and goalkeeper Chris Taylor all played crucial roles as the Robins earned three welcome league points last Saturday.

The press man swapped his pen for a flag when an assistant referee sustained an ankle injury midway through the second half.

West, meanwhile, was forced into a striking role when Neil Illman suffered a re-occurrence of a calf strain four minutes in and the substitute responded with a sublime 34th minute strike to double Evesham's advantage.

Five minutes earlier, Steve Lutz hooked the visitors ahead on an afternoon when United outplayed a poor Atherstone outfit despite fielding a makeshift side.

Taylor was rarely troubled as recalled duo Inderpaul Khela and Wesley Joyce were in dominant mood at the back alongside regular sound performers Andy Smith and Mark Wolsey.

However, Taylor produced a stunning penalty save three minutes into the second half after Joyce had fouled Mark Corbett.

It was a shame that Taylor was denied the reward of a clean sheet when Chris Day hammered in a last-minute consolation.

It was a day when fringe players Danny James, Grant Pinkney and Scott Mullen did their causes no harm with tenacious displays alongside the experienced Lutz and Gary Barnett who led by example.

James saw a couple of instinctive second half efforts narrowly fail to find the target, while Pinkney's shot 17 minutes from time struck a post.

The visitors were in control throughout with West a revelation up front and thoroughly deserving what is thought to be his first goal in open play for the club. He did notch from the penalty spot at Bilston four seasons ago.

After successive away wins, a return to winning form at Common Road against Warwick on Saturday would again propel Phil Mullen's men towards the managers predicted top six finish.