Road weary Robins back to old ways (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Road weary Robins back to old ways

Halesowen Tn 2, Evesham Utd 0

TWO or three more weekends like the last one will see Dave Busst's men's current precarious state become an unavoidable exit from the top flight of the Southern League, writes Mervyn Collins.

On a day when both Northwood and Cheshunt both won on their travels, the Robins again failed to notch up a win on the road after three successive draws.

Those results appeared to have boded well for the relegation struggle but the three points taken from the four away games - and results elsewhere - have left the Robins just one point ahead of bottom of the table Aylesbury.

And, on the evidence of last Saturday's sorry showing, Evesham have it all to do if they are to avoid a swift return to Division One West.

Persistent pressure for the opening 20 minutes of the second period prompted thoughts of another away fightback but chances were at a premium although when play switched to the other end, Howard Forinton wasn't as wasteful and his 64th minute strike after a rare Anthony Watson error left the visitors lifeless and pointless.

Scampering

Gavin O'Toole's pass sent Richard Ball scampering clear after 49 minutes but the top scorer was hindered by the bumpy surface and failed to get a shot in. Richie Robinson then saw an angled drive held by Dean Coleman, Steve Duncan set up John Williams but his shot was way off target before Ball's pass sent Rob-inson to the byline but there was no one on hand to convert his driven cross.

That was it as an attacking force despite Busst introducing Shane Benjamin and Grant Pinkney after 68 minutes and it was Forinton who came closest to inflicting more misery but his 70th minute shot flashed a yard wide.

Forinton had created Hales-owen's opener after 11 minutes when his left wing centre was converted with ease by Nathan Lamey.

That defensive deficiency won't have pleased the Com-mon Road chief who preferred Steve Luckett to the soon to be banned Lee Knight.

Rob Taylor saw a 23rd min-ute strike touched over by Coleman as both teams struggled for rhythm, while O'To-ole banged a 25-yarder high over the the Town goal.

Coleman saved easily from Ball whose miserable afternoon was completed after he was whacked from behind by Stuart Pierpoint, reacted only to be shoved away by the home man who should really have seen red to Ball's ninth yellow of the season.

Southern League

Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

Salisbury City 24 18 2 4 46 10 56

Chippenham Tn 26 17 4 5 48 29 55

King's Lynn 27 14 6 7 46 25 48

Bedford Tn 27 14 6 7 44 35 48

Bath City 25 12 7 6 34 18 43

Banbury Utd 27 11 9 7 45 38 42

Halesowen Tn 25 10 9 6 34 27 39

Rugby Tn 28 11 6 11 48 47 39

Merthyr Tydfil 25 11 5 9 38 32 38

Mangotsfield Utd 26 9 11 6 47 43 38

Grantham Tn 28 10 8 10 34 33 38

Yate Tn 26 11 4 11 41 48 37

Tiverton Tn 25 11 3 11 49 42 36

Team Bath 25 10 5 10 34 36 35

Hitchin Tn 27 9 8 10 41 49 35

Northwood 27 8 4 15 32 52 28

Cirencester Tn 27 8 3 16 27 42 27

Evesham Utd 28 5 10 13 31 40 25 Chesham Utd 28 6 7 15 28 56 25

Cheshunt 27 6 6 15 33 46 24

Gloucester City 28 6 6 16 36 50 24

Aylesbury Utd 26 5 9 12 23 41 24