EVESHAM United endured a miserable afternoon as a defensive performance to forget saw them suffer a third successive Southern League Division One South & West defeat against Taunton Town on Saturday.
The Somerset side could scarcely believe some of the hospitality offered their forward players as they cantered to a 3-0 victory at the Jubilee Stadium which means the Robins’ recent six-match unbeaten league run seems a distant memory and leaves them sitting 12th in the table.
Both sides were hopeful of mounting challenges for the title, but at the moment it seems as though fourth placed Taunton are the more likely, with Paul Collicutt’s Robins now 11 points behind leaders North Leigh having played three more games.
In their defence, the hosts badly missed midfielder Nick Stanley who was ill and suspended captain and centre back Matt Sysum.
Evesham made a decent start as defender Ashley Williams headed over, George Washbourne was not far away with a long distance strike and Lance Smith nodded over.
However, some route one football gave the visitors a 25th minute lead as Craig Veal was easily able to set up Ryan Broom to net the opener.
It was 2-0 nine minutes later when Jordan Rogers struck at the near post from Ben Carter’s corner and the afternoon then went from bad to worse for the hosts on 44 minutes when Broom was again left with far too much room and he scored with ease.
Collicutt introduced Clayton Green and Carl Brown from the bench for the start of the second half in place of Washbourne and Dan MacDonald but, aside from Louis McGrory firing against the post from a tight angle, the hosts never threatened a comeback.
Evesham will attempt to bounce back when they host Burnham on Saturday before visiting Mangotsfield United on Tuesday.