THERE should have been only one winner in Hertfordshire last Saturday . . . and it definitely wasn't the home side, writes Mervyn Collins.

United outplayed their hosts throughout but a failure to turn chances into goals proved costly.

And, just when you thought the consolation of a first clean sheet of the new term would provide some solace, a wicked bounce caught out Karl Lewis and George Gregorio volleyed in the winner five minutes from time.

The frailty in front of goal started as early as the first minute when Richard Ball shot straight at the Cheshunt goalkeeper after latching on to Jae Martin's astute pass.

That wasn't to be the worst of the afternoon's misses with Jermaine Clarke's effort ten minutes before the home side's clincher an early contender for miss of the season.

The striker was left with a simple tap-in after he had combined superbly with fellow replacement Jamie Bailey to slice open the hone side's rearguard. However, Clarke could only direct his shot from eight yards against the top of the bar after Bailey's unselfish square pass left the goal gaping.

The pair of 63rd minute replacements for Ball and Martin certainly proved far more direct than the initial strike force and Bailey was denied with almost his first touch when Michael Kalli somehow got in the way of his point-blank drive.

Clarke clipped Matty Hall's free-kick inches wide then dragged a right-footer wide of the other upright before Bailey almost grabbed a stoppage-time leveller only for Kalli to keep out his far post header.

Dave Busst started with the 11 that emerged for the second half at Rugby and sound defence and an energetic midfield unit proved the basis for a dominant attacking display that only lacked the final touch.

Lewis made two decent first half saves but was largely untroubled until he was forced to thwart Glen Parry with his legs two minutes after Evesham's double shuffle.

Bobby Highton caught the miss malaise when shooting wide after Grant Pinkney's error after 70 minutes but that effort paled into insignificance when Clarke fluffed a sitter.

Frustration on the visiting bench became even worse when Robert Tun-gett's shot bounced awkwardly for Lewis and Gregorio made the Rob-ins pay for their wastefulness in front of goal.