Evesham Utd 3, Atherstone Utd 0

A THIRD Western Division double in the space of seven days was slightly tarnished by the late sending off of Wesley Joyce.

It was an earlier red card for Atherstone's Chris Day that ultimately decided Saturday's spoils as early as the 23rd minute when Nathan Jukes made it 2-0 to the rampant Robins.

Day palmed a header from Inderpaul Khela off the line and the inevitable red followed before Jukes slotted in the penalty.

Six minutes earlier Joyce had given United the lead and Mark Shepherd and Mark Wolsey could both have doubled the advantage before Day's dismissal.

While Dale Belford was having a busy afternoon in the visitors' goal, Tim Hart was a virtual spectator at the opposite end.

It was a similar story in the second period when the home side needed just six minutes and a smart Shepherd finish to wrap up a third successive win.

Joyce, Shepherd and Kris Sage were all denied by Belford before the introduction of Aaron Shanahan, Grant Pinkney and youth teamer Matt Staley upset the home side's rhythm.

Khela shot wide of a gaping goal after rounding Belford but manager Phil Mullen will be cursing Joyce's late caution that will rule him out of several matches after five previous cautions will keep him on the sidelines for United's next Saturday outing at Bromsgrove.

Tuesday night's postponement at Cinderford means a possible reunion with Darren Bullock and Steve Lutz on Saturday, March 15 - 14 days after the last game.

However, the Robins will go in search of a fourth successive league double in good heart after three straight wins - a run of success that has seen Mullen's side move into second spot behind Mangotsfield in the goals for column.

The Common Road chief has strengthened his squad even further with the acquisition of former Warwick utility man Mark Rollings after Mark Shepherd made his loan move from Solihull into a permanent one until the end of the season.

However, Paul Hunter who arrived back at the club alongside Shepherd six weeks ago, has been released.

"Paul wanted too much money and he can't make the midweek matches so I decided to release him," a disappointed Mullen explained.