Mangotsfield Utd 3, Evesham Utd 1

SATURDAY'S was one of those matches that could have finished 6-1 or 3-3, writes Mervyn Collins.

Defensively, the visitors were a shambles although it wasn't shortcomings at the back that allowed the hosts to profit but a failure to back track in midfield.

Evesham more than held their own for 45 minutes and should really have gone in at half-time on level terms.

However, two early goals after the break, killed off the match although, when substitute Nathan Jukes fired in a 68th minute penalty, the visitors put Mangot-sfield under pressure but failed to snatch a crucial second.

Tim Clarke replaced Damien Beattie, who is believed to have missed training during the fortnight's break, and the debutant custodian was indebted to two superb interceptions from Inderpaul Khela in the opening 13 minutes as the home side, fielding three new faces, swarmed forward.

Grant Pinkney, however, came closest to finding the net when his 17th minute shot was superbly pushed for a corner by Antony Malessa.

Steve Lutz then fired a volley just over and Wesley Joyce was blocked out after finding himself in space behind the home back line.

Dean Pendry, who was a threat down the right all afternoon, created the opener when fellow midfielder Adam Simms was allowed time and space in the box to sweep a right-footer past Clarke with 26 minutes on the watch.

Evesham a had a glorious chance to level ten minutes later when Khela's header over the top left Joyce in the clear but the striker poked a weak effort wide of Malessa's goal from eight yards.

That miss proved even more vital five minutes after the break when Jack Pitcher got the better of Marc Burrow and Darren Edwards was on hand to tap in the rebound after Cla-rke had saved Pitcher's shot.

Jukes and Simon Marsh replaced Scott Mullen and Paul Oakey after 57 minutes and the change almost reaped an instant reward when Marsh's first touch brought the best out of Malessa and Pinkney's follow-up was deflected for a corner.

Edwards missed a sitter at the other end, while Clarke denied Simms a second before the midfielder made it 3-0 after more sloppy marking at the back.

Jukes reduced the arrears after the referee had spotted a push on an Evesham player in the home penalty area and, had Gary Kemp, not produced a last-ditch tackle as the limping Joyce bore down on goal, then the visitors could have had a sniff of a point.

As it was the game fizzled out with the Evesham back three of Jukes, Burrow and Khela looking distinctly insecure and the front trio of Joyce, Marsh and strangely ineffective Mark Shepherd unable to unsettle the Mangotsfield rearguard leaving the losers to reflect on a fourth Western Division reverse in six matches.