EVESHAM taught Rovers a basic lesson in finishing at the Victoria Ground on Saturday.

While the Greens made a good fight of this competitive Worcestershire derby, taking the second half one-nil, United were comfortable winners in the end.

The action exploded into life as early as the second minute. Steve Frost was blatantly shoved off the ball by Evesham's Paul West in the penalty area but the referee waved play on.

United took the lead eight minutes later through a Bromsgrove old-boy. Stuart Payne latched on to Shaun Pratt's flicked header and lobbed Elliott Morris from just inside the area. Evesham could have doubled the lead minutes later when Rovers skipper Quentin Townsend appeared to push Payne in the area.

Kevin Banner should have equalised after 28 minutes after picking up David Bridgewater's through ball and then turning his marker superbly. But the home fans watched in agony as Banner dragged his shot painfully wide of the post.

He was left to rue that miss as Evesham went up the other end and increased their lead. Pratt's right wing run and centre fell into Andy Hodgett's path and he despatched the ball past Morris from close range.

It was 3-0 after 39 minutes when Anthony Watson was adjudged to have fouled Hodgetts just inside the area. Steve McCarten stepped up to ram home the spot kick and put Evesham into an unassailable lead at the interval.

Or so it seemed. Whatever management duo Steve Daniels and Gary Hackett said at half time seemed to have the desired effect on the Rovers players as they came out with renewed spirit.

Lee Hughes and Banner both watched efforts deflect for corners as Bromsgrove turned up the heat. They came to the boil on 57 minutes with a move started by Costas Xiourouppa's exquisite control.

Under pressure

Under pressure from two Evesham men, he turned both and fed the oncoming Banner. The youngster ran at his marker with pace down the left and squared a fine ball into the path of Frost who rammed it first time past Damian Beattie's despairing dive.

With half an hour left to get back into the game, the home fans expected a dramatic comeback familiar to several matches in Rovers' season. But it never arrived, as Evesham comfortably dealt with everything the Greens threw at them. Xiourouppa had the best chance to revive the game on 81 minutes but he hit a tame shot straight at Beattie.

Rovers: Morris, Watson, Hughes (Lloyd 70 mins), Townsend, S Frost, Creichton, Bridgewater, Ball, Xiourouppa, Banner, Beckett.

Rovers man of the match: Steve Frost.

Attendance: 598.

Report by CHRIS VAUGHAN