EVESHAM United bowed out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle after a 2-0 defeat against Merthyr Tydfil in the preliminary round at Penydarren Park.

Apart from the opening 20 minutes, United struggled to put their game together and in turn saw their five-match unbeaten run come to a disappointing end.

The talking point, however, in a fairly mundane game was the performance of Hereford referee Andy Williams.

He dismissed Robins defender Matt Gardiner and banished manager Phil Mullen from the touchline in the second half and needed stewards to escort him off the pitch at the final whistle and out of the ground after the game.

The display of Mr Williams though, cannot be blamed for United's limp exit. They offered very little as an attacking force and missed the pace of the injured Shaun Pratt up front.

Evesham spurned a couple of chances early on. Darren Bullock's 'bullet' header was cleared off the line by Paul Keddle and Steve Lutz, arriving late at the far post, was just off target following Bullock's free kick.

Merthyr finally broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half. Jason Price headed down Danny Carter's cross and Ryan Dorrian was on hand to stab the ball past Darren Steadman.

Twelve minutes later, the game was over as a contest. Steadman made a brilliant reflex save from Dorrian but former Bromsgrove Rovers striker Andy Mainwaring followed up to five the lose ball into an unguarded net.

United rallied in the closing stages but to no avail. Leroy May struck the Merthyr woodwork with a powerful header and Martyrs 'keeper Neil Thomas did well to tip over a menacing cross-shot from Andy Smith.

Evesham: Steadman 6, H Smith 7, Pendleton 6 (James 70, 5), Gardiner 6, Powell 6, Jukes 6 (Parmenter 89), West 5, Bullock 6, May 5, Lutz 6, Pinkney 5. Subs not used: Sollis, Davies and Ladek.

n Redditch United easily beat Cirencester Town 4-0 in the Dr Martens Western Division.

Alex Cowley set up Richard Softley for the opener after only five minutes, and Cowley made it 2-0 six minutes into the second-half.

Peter Sutton got the third after 77 minutes after being set up by Lee Booth and Matty Hall, and Hall was again the creator for the fourth when his corner was headed home by Richard Field.