Evesham Utd 2, Bedworth Utd 0

DEFENDERS Steve Luckett and Joe Clarke scored the goals that earned United a ninth successive win to retain their seven-point lead at the top of the Division One Midlands table.

It wasn't a display befitting of table toppers as they were made to work hard for their win on an afternoon when the virtually untroubled Nathan Vaughan had only one serious note of alarm while keeping an eighth clean sheet in nine outings.

A scrappy first half was in interrupted for 15 minutes after referee Lance Blackwood limped off with a calf problme hence the lack of information on the website as sports editor Mervyn Collins once more took over on the line.

United rarely threatened in the first half in the absence of flu-stricken Gary Hay, suspended Steve Hands and injured Danny Scheppel, who was put in charge of the laptop but was unable to bring you the usual up to the minute news!

Mark Owen had an effort wiped out for offside - a decision that appeared to bemuse almost everyone on the ground.

Relief was there for all to see when Luckett poked in the opener after 55 minutes for his first goal of the season.

The points were as good as wrapped up ten minutes later when Clarke headed in a free-kick after which Bedworth defender Tom Browett was red-carded by stand-in official Phil Hardisty after kicking Steve Lutz in the aftermath of the goal.

Michael Hayden was on the end of Evesham's best move of the afternoon but he was denied a third goal late on when Andrew Kemp pulled off a fine save.

The visitors never threatened and three more points were comfortably pocketed to keep the Robins in pole position for the championship.