Evesham United 3, Bideford Town 1

THERE was more chance of Saturday's AXA sponsored FA Cup preliminary round qualifying tie not taking place than a resurgent United side losing.

Bideford endured a tortuous journey on the traffic-laden M5 that only saw them arrive at Common Road at 4.15pm. But it was one-way traffic on the pitch as the hosts continued their storming start with a fifth successive win.

However, a date at Gloucester City on September 16 wasn't sealed until the final minute when Jay Powell headed in Mark Wolsey's corner.

Sam Bowen and Dean Roberts had earlier taken their joint total of goals to eight in seven days but, despite both finding the target again, the duo were somewhat out of sorts in front of goal.

Unchanged Evesham produced some lovely passing play in a one-sided opening half that left the depleted Devonians chasing shadows.

The nearest Phil Mullen's men came to breaking the deadlock was three minutes before the break when the impressive Phil Preedy left three players trailing in his wake only to see Glen Duff clear his shot off the line.

The visitors were further handicapped after just ten minutes when goalkeeper Mark Coombe hobbled off after a clash with Bowen but John Wright proved an assured deputy and kept out everything Evesham had to offer.

United laid siege to the visitors' goal with Bowen missing the clearest chance on 26 minutes from another move instigated by the lively Wolsey.

However, it took Bowen just five minutes to make his mark at the opposite end, rising serenely to power Andy Smith's cross past a despairing Wright.

Strike partner Roberts doubled the advantage after 61 minutes after Duff's mistake - another clinical finish appearing to secure victory and calm the nerves.

Bideford had other ideas and, when otherwise redundant Damien Beattie was forced into tackling Matt Joslin 25 yards out, the visiting striker chipped the loose ball into the empty net to revive hopes of a comeback.

Wolsey's superb strike came back off the angel of post and crossbar nine minutes from time, Bowen hit the inside if the same upright and it needed a timely interception from Matt Pendleton to deny Joslin an equaliser after Powell's slip.

The central defender had the final say on the stroke of full time as a long afternoon ended in victory in a match that tested the patience of players, management, fans and officials alike.

United: Beattie, Smith, Pendleton, Rogers, Powell, Taylor, Wolsey, McCartan, Bowen, Roberts (Brown), Preedy. Subs (not used), Parmenter, Twine, Shaw, Licata.