Evesham Utd 2,

Swindon Supermarine 1

THIS was just the result that could turn Evesham's season around, writes Mervyn Collins!

Down to ten men with only half-an-hour on the watch, the Robins produced a courageous display and fully deserved their win over the basement visitors that lifted them six places up the table

The victory was made even more satisfying as Richard Leadbeater's clincher came on the stroke of full time. It was the striker's first for the club and deserved reward for a terrific team effort in difficult circumstances.

Goalkeeper Damien Beattie was the player to be given his marching orders after tripping Tate Hulbert a couple of yards outside the penalty area.

An unchanged United side seeking a second successive win at Common Road started in far from convincing style and Hulbert had two early chances to give Supermarine the lead.

Mark Wolsey was surprisingly keen to don the goalkeeper's jersey especially after his last outing between the sticks saw the midfielder concede five goals in less than half-an-hour at Ledbury.

He dealt competently with an early free-kick but wasn't unduly troubled for the remainder of the game as Phil Mullen's men closed ranks and produced a committed all-round show.

Steve Bennett, though, produced a woeful finish six minutes after the break with only Wolsey to beat and that proved a costly miss for the Wiltshire strugglers when Jay Powell clipped in his first goal of the season from Phil Preedy's 67th minute cross.

The supplier should really have doubled United's lead five minutes later but his half-volleyed blast after Andy Smith's deep cross flew high over the top.

Two minutes later, Bennett atoned for his earlier miss, lashing a loose ball past Wolsey from ten yards and Swindon sensed a rare win.

Evesham were again stretched at the back after 77 minutes but, when Hulbert's shot hit the bar, Peter Macklin was flagged offside after netting the rebound.

Shaun Pratt replaced Steve Lutz with 11 minutes left and the home attack had a fresh zip. Richard Clark made a vital block to prevent Macklin making it 2-1 before Steve Taylor got on the end of a Smith centre, nodding the ball down for Leadbeater to bundle the ball in from six yards.

Dr Martens League Western Division

P W D L F A Pts

Halesowen Tn 24 16 5 3 49 16 53

Chippenham 23 15 5 3 50 17 50

Weston SM 23 14 4 5 45 22 46

Solihull Boro 22 13 4 5 45 24 43

Clevedon 26 12 4 10 42 43 40

Evesham Utd 21 12 1 8 33 34 37

Stourport Swifts 22 11 2 9 32 33 35

Sutton Coldfield 23 9 7 7 21 20 34

Gloucester City 25 10 6 9 31 43 36 Cinderford 24 10 4 10 38 44 34

Gresley Rvrs 22 10 3 9 29 32 33

Mangotsfield Utd 24 9 5 10 40 36 32

Bilston Tn 22 9 4 9 31 25 31

Atherstone 22 9 4 9 35 30 31

Bedworth Utd 22 9 4 9 33 33 31

Shepshed Dynamo 23 8 3 12 37 48 27

Redditch Utd 23 6 3 14 28 46 21

Cirencester 21 6 2 13 27 44 20

Rocester 23 4 6 13 25 45 18

RC Warwick 23 4 5 14 21 35 17

Swindon Super 24 3 3 18 24 46 12

Results up to and including Tuesday, January 15.