Evesham Utd 4, Northwood 0

THREE top quality goals and a tap-in for top scorer Richard Ball helped Evesham to a first home win for more than two months, writes Mervyn Collins.

Three of Saturday's goals were delivered by home debutants, while a third player making his season's bow at Common Road - in a red and white shirt - Adam Blake gave an assured show in the second half.

However, it was attacking duo John Williams and Matty Lewis who took illuminated a foggy afternoon when the win lifted the Robins out of the relegation area.

Former Kidderminster and Redditch man Williams fired the hosts into the lead after 13 minutes with a spectacular curler from 30 yards that left Northwood keeper Adam Federici clutching at thin air.

Six minutes later, the scorer's deft flick 25 yards from goal laid the ball into Lewis's path and the fellow new boy waltzed past three defenders before beating Federici off his right-hand upright.

While it should have been the forwards accepting the interval plaudits it was Dave Adey who United had to thank for going in on level terms as he produced two super stops to prevent the bottom of the table visitors embarrassing the side just two places above them.

Blake replaced Neil O'Sullivan just prior to the turnaround after which Northwood enjoyed the majority of possession but failed to seriously test Adey.

And, they paid for their failure to reduce the arrears when two goals in two minutes gave Evesham an unassailable advantage.

Ball provided the pass that sent the leggy Williams scampering clear after 62 minutes and the experienced striker slid a delightful finish past an exposed Federici.

A minute later, as the fog made identification tricky, United won the ball in midfield where Williams released Rob Taylor and the flank man's cross was perfectly placed for Ball to tap in the easiest of his 12 season's finishes.

Williams came closest to adding to the tally with a volley but Evesham's five-minute purple patch was followed by more controlled football from the visitors who had no end product to show for their efforts.

Perhaps the only blot on the welcome home win was the collection of four yellow cards - the first of which was again a needless one for Ball when he raised an arm to a Northwood defender and another referee on another day could easily have signalled red!

Southern League

Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

Salisbury City 14 10 2 2 26 7 32

Mangotsfield Utd 16 9 5 2 33 22 32

Bedford Tn 17 9 3 5 28 24 30

Chippenham Tn 14 9 2 3 29 19 29

Banbury Utd 17 8 5 4 31 23 29

King's Lynn 15 8 2 5 27 14 26

Bath City 14 7 3 4 19 10 24

Halesowen Tn 16 5 8 3 23 18 23

Hitchin Tn 17 6 5 6 24 27 23

Grantham Tn 17 6 4 7 22 22 22

Merthyr Tydfil 11 6 3 2 23 14 21

Team Bath 15 6 3 6 16 18 21

Tiverton Tn 14 6 2 6 23 20 20

Chesham Utd 17 6 2 9 22 31 20

Yate Tn 17 6 2 9 23 37 20

Aylesbury Utd 14 5 4 5 14 14 19

Evesham Utd 17 4 4 9 19 22 16

Cheshunt 16 4 4 8 20 26 16

Rugby Tn 16 4 4 8 25 34 16

Cirencester Tn 16 5 1 10 11 23 16

Gloucester City 17 3 5 9 22 31 14

Northwood 17 2 3 12 17 41 9