Evesham Utd 1, Weston-super-Mare 3

IT NEEDED 24 hours to reflect on United's tame FA Cup exit - a defeat that owed more to Weston's strength rather than Evesham's weaknesses, writes Mervyn Collins.

Having said that the Robins crashed out with something of a wimper last Saturday, only showing any signs of upsetting their loftier rivals in the final ten minutes.

The hosts started well but lost their way midway through the first half and only Weston's decision to take the foot off the pedal prompted any thoughts of a fightback.

Had Dave Adey not produced a handful of fine saves in the opening ten minutes of the second period then Dave Busst's strangely subdued side could have been facing an embarrassing reverse.

And, the Common Road boss will have been given plenty to mull over, both defensively and in attack, when it comes to this weekend's selection.

Jermaine Clarke was surprisingly left on the bench with Lee Ross foraging a solitary role up front with the recalled Danny Williams out wide on the left.

Lee Knight provided company for the striker - two decisions that could have made for a more interesting interval scoreline.

Weston were two goals to the good but, had Ross not fired a glorious chance wide six minutes before half-time and United's shortage of height at the back not been exposed when Matthew Rose opened the scoring after 25 minutes, then the Robins could have been still in the tie at half-time.

Leon Blake, who gave the ball way far too much, drove a ninth minute shot a yard over before Gavin O'Toole's curling free-kick two minutes later saw Ryan Northmore produce a top-class save.

There was little threat from Weston until Mark McKeever outjumped Grant Pinkney to head a free-kick across the six-yard box where the towering Rose leapt highest to nod the ball into the net.

An uncharacteristic error by Andy Smith led to United seeing their troubles doubled three minutes before the break when the skipper for the day was robbed by Lewis Hogg whose centre was easily converted by David Gilroy.

Williams immediately saw a shot saved by Northmore's legs and there were mutterings around the ground when Busst sent out an unchan-ged 11 for the second period. Substitutions would have been a waste of time had Adey not twice denied McKeever, pushed over Jonathan French's shot, clutched Rose's header and then used his feet to thwart Adie Mings - all within eight minutes of the turn-a-round.

There was no one on hand at the opposite end to get on to Pinkney's centre before Ravi Sangha and Clarke replaced Ross and Stuart Hamilton.

Clarke immediately went on one of his marauding runs to unsettle the visiting defence for a rare moment before Weston used a couple of their replacements with the game all but sewn up.

It was wrapped up ten minutes from time when substitute Bradley Thomas bundled in French's far post cross.

A suspiciously offside looking David Carns headed in Pinkney's volleyed cross with seven minutes left on the clock but the goal proved nothing more than a consolation.

Evesham won't come up against a better side this season - a lengthy FA Trophy run permitting - and that particular assessment of the winners bars any criticism of a home side who didn't - or weren't allowed - to show their true colours.