THE harsh reality of life in the Premier Division of the Southern League kicked in as Evesham lost their unbeaten record.

There was no disgrace in defeat, but the manner of the loss will leave Evesham boss Paul West with plenty to ponder ahead of Saturday’s visit of new league leaders Farnborough to St George’s Lane.

Gary Hay missed a golden chance and Tom Kemp headed against his own crossbar before Justin Rowe’s glancing header in first half injury-time left the visitors trailing. They came out with all guns blazing, though, and striker Hay’s sweet finish after 56 minutes was no more than Evesham deserved.

They were then saved by the woodwork after Rowe’s shot beat Dave Adey.

The stopper then looked to have clawed out substitute Jermaine Palmer’s 68th minute header but an assistant referee ruled the ball had crossed the line.

West made a triple change as the visitors sought a second leveller, but it was Palmer who nodded in the clincher seven minutes from time.

The Robins were given a lifeline on the stroke of normal time when Town keeper Nick Bussey was red-carded after striking out at Michael Batchelor.

However, Danny Hodnett’s poorly-taken penalty was kept out by Darren Caskey.

The former Tottenham and Reading midfielder then denied Danny Lennon in the sixth minute of time added on to end a frustrating afternoon for West’s men, who will have learned a lot from their first setback of the campaign.