EVESHAM United ended their 2013-14 campaign on a losing note, by going down to a 5-2 defeat against neighbours Redditch United in the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup final.

The Reds ran out comfortable winners at Aggborough to lift the trophy for the first time since beating Worcester City over two legs six years ago.

Redditch, of the Calor Southern League Premier Division, made a blistering start by taking a two-goal lead inside the opening 10 minutes.

Omari Sterling-James opened their account, seizing on a bouncing ball inside the six- yard box before heading in over Louie Barnfather.

The Evesham keeper was beaten for a second time shortly afterwards when the impressive Jermaine Hylton out-paced the Robins defence before slotting the ball past Barnfather. Elliot Kennedy and Lance Smith threatened briefly for Evesham, before Nathan Jackson gave Paul Collicutt’s Division One South and West side hope for the second-half by heading in James Bowen’s free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

Any hope, however, disappeared five minutes after the re-start when Jamie Molyneux made it 3-1 to the higher-ranked side despite protests from the Evesham players, who stopped in their tracks after the ball appeared to go out of play.

Evesham’s task was made even harder leading up to the hour mark when youngster Bowen was sent off for a foul on Sam Youngs.

Ashley Sammons then broke clear to make it 4-1, despite Barnfather getting a hand to the midfielder’s drive. It soon became 5-1 when Hylton got his second of the game, finishing off another through-ball down the middle.

Smith pulled a goal back for Evesham on 78 minutes with his 18th goal of the season, drilling a free-kick beyond keeper Sam Hornby after substitute Carl Brown had been brought down just outside the box.

Smith and then substitute James Vercesi forced Hornby into making diving saves and at the other end, defender Will Wellon prevented Hylton from bagging a hat-trick with a goal-line clearance in stoppage-time.

Evesham United: Barnfather, Tambling, Mansell, Wilson (Brown 60), Wellon, Sauntson, M Jackson, N Jackson (Vercesi 70), Smith, Kennedy, Bowen. Subs not used: Hitchman, Evans.

Attendance: 400.