EVESHAM United's hopes of making the play-offs were dealt a damaging blow as they were beaten by fellow top-six rivals Tavistock AFC on Saturday.

The Robins were the better side and deserved at least a point from the contest but they could not convert their chances and Edward Harrison's strike five minutes before the end of the first-half settled it.

Evesham are now six points off Tavistock in the final play-off position with two games in hand. 

United were bright in the first-half and were the better side overall but they were unable to make the breakthrough they so desperately craved.

Ashley Sammons came the closest when his low shot from the edge of the box crashed back off the post but for their promising display, clear-cut chances were few and far between.

And there was a collective frustrated gasp five minutes from half-time as Tavistock took the lead with what was their first real chance. A long-ball forward came back out to striker Edward Harrison, who took a touch before slotting into the bottom corner.

Evesham controlled possession again to start the second period but the goal continued to elude them.

They had a great chance on the hour as a scramble in the box saw a last-ditch block deny Kyle Belmonte from a matter of yards.

The Lambs were a threat on the counter and it took a smart save from Josh Nicol to keep out Brandon Pursall’s goal-bound shot.

Nicol was then again the savior for Evesham as he somehow managed to tip a deflected shot onto the bar and behind for a corner.

Ricky Johnson thought he has headed Evesham level with a bullet header but he was flagged offside by the linesman and Evesham had to go again.

And they did as the pacey William Owens got in behind the Tavistock defence but his cross was just about cleared over his own bar by Warren Daw. 

From then on in it was all Evesham and a number of goal-mouth scrambles saw Tavistock somehow keep the ball out of their own net.

Ethan Moran came on and forced a smart save out of Joshua Oak and Charlie Wise crashed a header against the underside of the bar but Evesham could find a way through and fell to a 1-0 defeat.