IT'S now only one defeat in 13 games for in-form Evesham United who put lowly Burnham to the sword with a comprehensive 5-0 victory at The Gore.

The win was United's ninth in 10 games and the seventh time this season they have found the back of the net five times or more in Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West.

It was a crucial game for both sides at the top and bottom with the dismissal of Burnham defender Joseph Jarra after four minutes playing a major factor in the Robins' 10th away win of the season.

For United's first visit to Burnham since the Southern League encounter in 2003-04, manager Paul Collicutt recalled keeper Kevin Sawyer, Linden Dovey and Cheltenham Town youngster Karnell Chambers to the starting XI who beat Mangotsfield United last time out.

The Robins got off to a flying start when the hard-working Carl Brown was hacked down in the box by Jarra, who was immediately shown red, and leading scorer Adam Mann made light work of sending Cesare Vernazza the wrong way from the spot.

In United's next attack with seven minutes on the clock, Brown superbly back-heeled Jacob Sloggett's cross beyond the diving Vernazza for 2-0.

Burnham continued to be pegged back in their own half and on 13 minutes conceded for a third time with Mann clinically putting away his 31st goal of the season after Brown cleverly dummied Chambers' driven cross from the left.

The rest of the half was dominated by the Red and Whites and a fourth goal arrived on the stroke of half-time, courtesy of Chambers' deflected delivery that looped kindly to captain Matt Sysum at the back post, where he confidently headed home his 12th goal of the campaign.

At the beginning of the second half Clayton Green thundered a volley against the Burnham woodwork with Vernazza beaten but the remainder of the contest was somewhat of an anti-climax as far as United were concerned.

The Robins continued to dominate but added just one more goal before the end in the closing stages courtesy of neat skills from Mann, who put the ball on a plate for Brown to stroke in United's fifth from 10 yards.

In stoppage-time, Mann squandered a golden opportunity to make it six and complete his hat-trick but, after being taken out by Miaal Glanak in the area, Vernazza guessed the right way to save the striker's penalty.

Collicutt said: "The pitch wasn't the best but we got the ball down and tried to play football. Burnham are fighting to stay in the league, so I knew it would be tough, but we kept to our game-plan and to score five goals and keep a clean sheet away from home was very pleasing.

"With the game won by half-time, I was able to rotate a little in the second half and give all three substitutes a run-out, which was important.

"We've three games to go and nine points at stake, so we'll continue what we're doing and see where it takes us."

Evesham need another win at Bishops Cleeve tomorrow night (7.45pm).

Evesham: Sawyer, Dovey, Green (Stanley 56), Harding, Sysum, Wellon, Sloggett (Modest 70), Williams (Wood 65), Mann, Brown, Chambers. Sub not used: Thompson.

Attendance: 101.