Evesham Utd 2, Redditch Utd 0

DOWN to the bare bones in terms of personnel, Evesham produced a rattling good display to land Redditch's title hopes a body blow, writes Mervyn Collins.

Ten points clear at the top of the Western Division table and unbeaten in 15 matches, Saturday's visitors must have fancied their chances of strengthening their championship challenge but they reckoned without Dave Busst's battling charges who put in a simply awesome performance to make it 14 points out of 18 since Christmas.

The indefatigable Craig Pountney was the goal hero with a brace of penalties, but it was Inderpaul Khela who caught the eye with a magnificent display in defence on an afternoon when all the home side should feel proud of their efforts.

That compliment also refers to sent off skipper Lee Knight and substituted debutant Jermaine Clarke, who found life at a higher level difficult to adjust. But he will get another chance to shine and perhaps against lesser opposition.

Knight's red card for a challenge only worthy of yellow on the stroke of half-time saw referee Russell Green "even up" the 25th minute dismissal of Gary Knight after dragging down Pountney as he bore down on goal.

The striker made it seven goals in five starts with a penalty into the corner and the visitors can have no real complaints about their numerical disadvantage.

The leaders rarely troubled Tim Clarke who produced a magnificent stop after 15 minutes to keep out Richard Softley's powerful strike. The home keeper had an alarm two minutes later when he dropped a free kick but Knight was on hand to tidy up on the goalline.

That was about as good as it got for Redditch in an even first period that saw Pountney and Flynn shoot over and Anstiss easily gather the former's early volley.

Three cautions added to the double dismissal, the second of which prompted angry scenes by the home dugout after Knight's challenge on Matty Hall that presumably was deemed "serious foul play".

Jermaine Clarke provided a couple of glimpses of his potential before giving way to the returning Steve Shaw, while Sean Flynn's header from a Craig Nicholls corner was tipped on to and over the bar by Anstiss.

Khela rescued Evesham with a goalline clearance after 55 minutes after Alex Cowley had raced unchallenged down the left. The saviour then made a superb foray forward that saw Anstiss easily save a shot from Nicholls.

Seconds later, Pountney's ability to wriggle past defenders prompted Quentin Townsend to drag him down - no card this time - and a spot-kick sent into the opposite corner doubled Evesham's advantage.

Substitute Richard Burgess shot a yard wide before another Khela surge and crossfield pass left Flynn in on goal but he dragged his shot wide from 12 yards.

The midfielder's chipped pass to Pountney moments later was volleyed goalwards and only the agility of Anstiss denied the striker his hat-trick.

The visitors made a double substitution late on but still the Evesham rearguard, with Andy Smith alongside Khela and Marc Burrow, with Nicholls and Grant Pinkney operating as wing backs, stuck to their task in solid style.

Scott Voice's quick free kick bounced a foot wide before Smith's amazing 60-yard run summed up everything about the hosts' power, presence and persistence.

Khela's late caution doesn't take anything away from his own personal performance that was almost matched throughout the side in what was a stupendous team effort.