Shepshed Dynamo 0, Evesham United 3

SATURDAY'S triumph made it six successive wins for Phil Mullen's magnificent men.

United's table toppers emerged triumphant from the toughest of tests - on paper - against the team in second place but it all proved something of a stroll for ebullient Evesham.

There will be sterner tests to come and there was little to choose between the sides after 45 minutes at The Dovecote last Saturday.

However, the second period was a different matter and the defeated hosts could have had little to moan about if United's margin of victory had been doubled.

Steve McCartan took the scoring honours with a timely brace in another impeccable team display that must have sent out the sternest of warnings to other title hopefuls.

Sam Bowen took his tally to six goals in four matches with United's third nine minutes from time after Shepshed had found it necessary to resort to illegal means to half the marauding marksman in the 52nd minute.

McCartan assumed responsibility for the dead ball kick and curled a delightful shot past Dean Thomas from 20 yards.

Bowen struck the crossbar as United pressed forward for a second which came when Phil Preedy raced to the by-line before pulling the ball back for McCartan to sidefoot past Thomas with 20 minutes left on the watch.

Skipper Steve Taylor rattled an upright with a blistering drive before the ever industrious Andy Smith sent over a pinpoint cross for Bowen to make it 3-0 with a powerful 81st minute header.

There was still time for substitute Michael Stephenson to inflict further misery on his former teammates but Thomas produced an excellent point-blank stop in injury time.

There were few signs of the ease with which the visitors would remain at the summit in the first 45 minutes.

An unchanged Evesham side found Thomas in fine form and Bowen slightly off target with a couple of headers.

Lee Quincey and Michael McLarnon both failed to test former Dynamo keeper Damien Beattie in the Evesham goal but the advantage of the slope was used to maximum effect by Mullen's charges whose next Western Division test is a home clash with goal hungry Hinckley on September 23.

United: Beattie, Smith, Pendleton, Rogers, Powell, Taylor, McCartan, Wolsey, Bowen (Parmenter), Roberts (Licata), Preedy (Stephenson).

The club's youth team 4-2 at home to Malvern last Wednesday in the Midland Flooodlit League. Goals from James Brown and Danny Hodgkins made the final score 4-2 after the visitors had romped into a 4-0 lead.

Harrow Hill makes the journey to Common Road next Wednesday for a 7.30pm kick off.