EVESHAM United goalkeeper Tim Clarke has not enjoyed the best of starts to his side's first season in the Southern League Premier Division.

For instead of standing between the posts for the Robins on the opening day of the season at Tiverton Town, he was sat in his car amid motorway mayhem in Devon, arriving just before half-time in the 3-0 defeat.

As if that was not bad enough, the 40-year-old from Halesowen was forced to re-live his nightmare three days later when serious accidents on the M5 and M42 brought the region to a standstill.

This time it left Clarke with his team mate striker Richard Ball, stuck in traffic.

Had it not been for a telephone call from manager Dave Busst, Clarke could have been in yet more difficulty before Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Salisbury City.

Busst called Clarke at 11.30am to inform him the M5 was stationary from junction three, where Clarke usually joins, prompting him to take an alternative route. Clarke said: "It's not something you plan for. On the Saturday it was just volumes of traffic with the rain and holiday traffic towards the south.

"I left home at 10.30am, which is usually enough time, and we were doing 30mph for most of that time and stood still for nearly 40 minutes."

As for Tuesday, Clarke added: "I was stuck and couldn't go anywhere. Richard Ball was in the same predicament. I got there just before half-time. It was just one of those things."

Clarke will be hoping for better luck on the roads tonight as Evesham travel to Rugby Town (7.45).