Saturday, September 21, 2002

UNITED made hard work of seeing off winless Swindon Supermarine at Common Road last Saturday.

Not for the first time this season, Mullen's men wasted several chances to seal victory before the visitors made it 3-2 late on to leave the Robins hanging on.

Matt Gardiner volleyed in an eighth minute opener and it was 2-0 nine minutes later when Leroy May converted Grant Pinkney's astute cross at the far post.

After Jay Powell had gone close to tying up the points on the half-hour, Adie Adams left Supermarine just a goal adrift at the break when he scored from a corner.

Slick passing on the edge of the 18-yard box opened up the Swindon rearguard for Nathan Jukes to net United's third on the hour.

Shaun Pratt's shot then skimmed the bar and May had what looked like a valid penalty appeal waved aside.

The 77th minute collision with Liam Bull saw the Swindon keeper stretchered off and Pratt's failure to convert after May had nodded a Darren Bullock free-kick across the face of goal heightened home anxiety.

Damion Quailey produced a fine save to thwart Tom Jones before a second from Adams with four minutes left on the watch threatened to spoil Evesham's unblemished start to the season on home soil.