Paulton Rovers 0 Evesham United 3
Southern League Division One South & West
FOR the second game running, Evesham United saved their best for the second half as they scored three times at Winterfield Road to beat Paulton Rovers on Saturday.
The Robins, who blasted five goals past Bridgwater Town in the second period seven days earlier, are now unbeaten in three league games and up to sixth.
Once again there was no place for skipper Matt Sysum and midfield general Ashley Williams, who were both named on the substitutes bench.
Defender Leroy Odiero was recalled by injury-hit Gloucester City while Mark Magee started up front in place of leading scorer Lance Smith, who was missing due to work commitments.
United survived an early scare when former England Futsal captain Ian Parkes struck the woodwork but that was as good as it got for the home side.
Indeed, the best chance of the first half fell to United’s Bradley Williams but the midfielder somehow hit the post when it appeared easier to score.
Andrew Hannah saved well from the impressive Lorcan Sheehan immediately after the interval, but was beaten for the first time in the 54th minute when Paul Fahy curled a shot beyond the stopper into the far corner.
United picked up the tempo after the goal and Sheehan’s corner ended up in Hannah’s net but was disallowed for an infringement before Magee spooned a sitter from inside the six-yard box after good work by Adam Mann.
The Red and Whites’ pressure got its inevitable reward with a second goal on 70 minutes when Sheehan swung over a corner from the left and Nick Stanley was there to volley home a sweetly struck finish past Hannah.
Elliot Kennedy, who caused numerous problems after replacing the ineffective Magee, landed a cross-shot on to the roof of Hannah’s net before getting himself on the scoresheet after 79 minutes with a rasping drive after more unselfish work by the hardworking Mann.
To their credit, the young Paulton side kept plugging away and Will Hailston and Solomon Wheatley both forced Kevin Sawyer to make full-length saves before the final whistle.
Evesham host 16th placed Yate Town on Tuesday.