RC Warwick 0, Evesham Utd 6

IT was raining goals at a soggy Hampton Road last Saturday as United recorded a First Western Division away win in magnificent fashion.

However, the most relieved player on the pitch was visiting goalkeeper Chris Taylor who kept a welcome clean sheet after conceding 14 goals in five matches since arriving at Common Road last month.

It looked like being another uncomfortable afternoon for the custodian when Adam Kinder hit the top of the net after a mix-up with Inderpaul Khela and Taylor was again in action after 14 minutes to block another Kinder effort after more uncertainty at the back.

Wesley Joyce was assigned the task of shoring up the defence in place of the injured Matt Gardiner but the versatile newcomer was quickly back up front when Shaun Pratt left the field after 35 minutes.

By then the game was over as three goals inside five minutes illuminated a dreary afternoon.

Pratt's early header had been hacked off the line before Matty Lewis's control and 20-yard strike opened the scoring in the 25th minute.

Sixty seconds later it was 2-0 when Nathan Jukes fired in a 30-yarder that Mark Jones could only parry. Paul Hunter's acrobatic overhead kick looped over the grounded keeper to double Evesham's lead.

Jukes, the subject of Bromsgrove interest, was again the provider on the half-hour when Darren Bullock fortuitously turned in his free-kick.

Jones produced a superb stop to touch aside Hunter's strike as the rampant Robins swarmed forward. The home keeper then touched a deflected shot on to the bar and was relieved to see Jukes strike the outside of the post from the loose ball.

However, Jones' luck was out two minutes before half-time when his miskick allowed Joyce to nod in a fourth after a sweet interchange with Lewis.

Substitute Paul West and Richard Ball were lucky to stay on the field after a bout of fisticuffs on the stroke of half-time after which the torrent of goals lessened while the rain became heavier.

Andy Smith's persistence and subsequent centre was expertly converted by Lewis - his fifth goal in two games - before the afternoon turned slightly sour when Bullock received a tenth yellow card of a turbulent campaign - albeit in unfortunate circumstances.

The midfield dynamo was superb throughout but took exception to a late tackle from Mark Rollins although the reaction that brought a booking could have been far worse.

The Warwick keeper's afternoon - like the weather - got gradually worse when he spilled a shot from Jukes and Hunter poked in United's sixth with 25 minutes remaining.

Bullock and Joyce made way for Grant Pinkney and Scott Mullen late on when Taylor's protection was paramount although he had a couple of escapes on an afternoon when Warwick's unbeaten home record - like the home defence - was ripped to shreds!