Evesham Utd 3, Rugby Tn 0

LIKE him or loathe him, you just can't help but admire the influence of Lee Knight, writes Mervyn Collins.

The central defender was recalled to United's starting 11 but it was his attacking instincts that helped the Robins to a welcome three points and first double of their inaugural top flight campaign.

Rugby had controlled the opening half and only a splendid save from Dave Adey to thwart Robbie Beard and the width of the crossbar had prevented Saturday's visitors from heaping more misery on United.

However, when Knight collected the ball after good work from Rob Taylor and Gavin O'Toole a minute before the break, he found Richard Ball with a delightful pass into the corner and the striker's near post cross saw Steve Duncan send a looping header beyond Farshad Afandiyez and into the far corner of the Town goal.

Doubled

The lead was doubled in the first minute of stoppage-time when Knight's long ball was allowed to bounce in the Rugby 18-yard area and Taylor doubled Evesham's advantage with a fine header.

Those two minutes could prove the turning point in what has been a troubled season and more of the same on the road ahead of Evesham's return to home soil on February 12 should lift them further away from the relegation trapdoor.

Knight's defensive instincts were needed as Town poured forward after the restart but Adey was given commendable protection and his only serious action saw him turn over a 72nd minute strike from former Common Road man Danny Williams.

It wasn't just Knight who caught the eye as Dave Busst's men lifted themselves out of the relegation area with a determined display that should prove a platform to retain their Premier Division status.

The manager again shuffled his pack bringing back Taylor alongside Knight at the expense of Mike Feely and Grant Pinkney with Richie Robinson being given - and showing up superbly - in a free first half role in front of the back three.

There was a passion about Evesham once they had taken the lead although John Williams will have been disappointed not to have troubled Afandiyev with two first half headers.

The striker then went close from O'Toole's 77th minute corner before a first win in eight matches was sealed six minutes from time when Ball clinically converted substitute Leon Blake's cross.

The latter pair both joined - who else - Knight in the referee's notebook on a rare afternoon when the performance of the winners wasn't in keeping with that of yet more incompetent officials!