THREE successive league defeats has put paid to any chances Evesham United had of finishing in the top three of the Dr Martens League Western Division.

The latest, a 2-1 reversal at Weston-Super-Mare, saw a below-par performance from a tired looking United side, who were playing their fourth game inside seven days.

With one eye on Thursday's Worcestershire Senior Cup final against Moor Green, United looked a pale shadow of the side that has performed so well all season.

Despite their limitations, an ordinary looking Weston side showed more appetite for the game and manager Phil Mullen must have been disappointed with the lack of commitment shown by some of his side.

On a bone-hard and badly rutted playing surface, poor defending allowed the Seagulls to take the lead on 17 minutes. Jay Powell and Damien Beattie got in each others way in attempting to clear Eston Chiverton's punt upfield, and Jody Bevan fired in the loose ball from out on the left.

United responded with Shaun Pratt shooting straight at Steve Weaver and then the Weston 'keeper brilliantly turned behind Steve Taylor's floated free-kick.

Richard Clark headed wide when unmarked, but in the last minute of the half Bevan scored his second. Beattie failed to gather the striker's header which struck an upright and Bevan followed up to walk the ball home.

Evesham did improve in the second-half, without really testing Weaver. Andy Hodgetts pulled one back with two minutes remaining and in injury-time defender Matt Pendleton wasted a golden opportunity to grab a point for United, volleying over with only Weaver to beat.

United: Beattie 5, Smith 6, Pendleton 6, Clark 5, Powell 5, Hodgetts 4, Licata 4, McCartan 6 (Parmenter 80), Pratt 6 (Brown 70, 6), Taylor 6 (Wolsey 70, 6), Payne 4.

Attendance: 159.