Evesham Utd Ladies 4,

Kidderminster Harriers Res 5

UNITED continued their run of disappointing results as they slipped to their third successive defeat when they entertained second in the table Kidderminster on Sunday.

Evesham had the better of the early exchanges and twice had reasonable opportunities to take the lead before the visitors scored from their first attack in the 14th minute when Laura Westwood sliced the ball into her own net as she attempted to clear.

The lead lasted two minutes as Sam Perry played Charlene McLoughlin in and although her first effort was parried by goalkeeper Lucy Cooksey she reacted sharply to knock home the rebound.

United were still having the better of the play and it came as no real surprise when they took the lead in the 35th minute when Amy Summers fired a superb shot into the far corner.

United were caught out in the first minute of the second half as Kirsty Hughes ran through the home defence and sent a shot across home keeper Sonia Anderson for the equaliser, then in the 54th minute the ball was lost in the home midfield and Roberts was quickly away from a static defence to score with ease.

A superbly timed saving tackle by Becky Handy on Hughes prevented a fourth goal for the visitors before United dragged themselves back into the game in the 68th minute when a fine move saw Amy Summers tee up McLoughlin for the equaliser.

Back in front

Straight from the restart Hughes ran through the Evesham defence to put Kidderminster back in front.

Although the pace of Roberts and Hughes was causing problems, United were arguably playing the better football and so it proved in the 81st minute as a ball played into the Kidderminster penalty area saw both McLoughlin and Perry sliding in with the latter finding the net off the inside of the post.

With the game in the final minute and seemingly destined for a draw United were caught out again as they stood appealing for offside, but the speedy Roberts was allowed to run on and net the winner.

United make the trip to Leominster on Sunday for a league game (ko 2pm).