EVESHAM United put in an encouraging performance despite bowing out of the Worcestershire Senior Cup with a 3-0 defeat the hands of eventual winners Kidderminster Harriers on Thursday.
The National League North side followed their semi-final success at the Jubilee Stadium with a penalty-shoot-out victory over Redditch United in Saturday’s final at Bromsgrove Sporting after a 0-0 draw.
United were again without a number of players but included Leon Jeanne on the substitutes bench. The experienced midfielder began his career at Queens Park Rangers and went on to play at Cardiff City, Newport County, Merthyr Tydfil and Weston-super-Mare among others.
United’s Lance Smith forced Jonno Brown into an early save but it was George Taylor who fired the visitors ahead in the 12th minute with a simple tap-in after good work on the left by James Hancocks.
Nick Stanley’s free kick was deflected over for the hosts before a lapse of concentration on 22 minutes allowed Jordan Murphy to make it 2-0 by tucking the ball beyond Kevin Sawyer into the bottom corner.
Before half time Smith again tested Brown who made an excellent block after the Robins striker had dispossessed George Forsyth.
However, a third Harriers goal immediately after the interval put the game out of United’s reach, with Murphy finding the target for a second time after a well timed run and shot past Sawyer.
With 71 minutes on the clock United squandered a golden opportunity to pull a goal back when Jeanne was upended in the box by Hancocks, but Kidderminster stopper Brown saved Stanley’s poorly struck spot kick and the subsequent rebound.
There were few opportunities after this at either end, although Jeanne sent over a couple of teasing crosses that were cleared and Jordan Tunnicliffe got in a good block as United finished the tie on the front foot.