PAUL West's rampant Evesham United stormed seven points clear at the top of British Gas Business Division One Midlands after Danny Scheppel thumped in a superb volley on eight minutes.

It was the Robins' seventh successive win since a stuttering start to 2008 after which the defence has proved almost impregnable.

Keeper Nathan Vaughan has kept six clean sheets in the past seven outings and he was only extended once to touch over Craig Holland's first-half lob.

When Vaughan was beaten, Michael Hayden nodded Andy Penny's 32nd-minute header off the line as the winners again showed tremendous grit and determination. That was epitomised by top-scorer Mark Owen popping up late on to clear the danger inside his own six-yard area and then sending Gary Hay clear at the other end to fire wide.

Owen went close with a late curler, while Steve Lutz twice flashed efforts wide from Hayden corners.

However, if you don't concede goals then you don't lose matches and that philosophy is proving so fruitful as Evesham take a firmer grip on their chase for championship honours.