THE width of a post denied Evesham gaining the three points that would have virtually guaranteed a place in the Southern League Division One Midlands play-offs.

Mark Owen, who had earlier given the Robins the lead with a cool finish after 16 minutes, fired in a left-footer after 69 minutes that took a slight deflection before rebounding to safety off the woodwork.

Six minutes later, Russell Dunkley was left unmarked 10 yards out and he beat Karl Lewis off the underside of the crossbar.

The same part of the framework also prevented a header from Steve Lutz making it 2-0 after 39 minutes during a first-half dominated by the visitors.

However, they had to survive a scare in the second minute when Tom Fountain's header also struck a post.

After that, Paul West's side were in the ascendancy and Owen twice went close before finally finding the net.

Simon Fitter, Steve Duncan, Mark Hands and Daniel Lennon all had decent attempts on goal but that crucial second evaded the Robins.

It was much the same after the break when Lutz and Lennon were narrowly off target and Liam Daly's goalbound 54th-minute header was diverted over the bar by Jason Burnham.

Woodford used all three substitutes as they tried to boost their own play-off chances and finally breached an otherwise resilient Evesham rearguard. United's defence was almost caught out again two minutes later but a relieved Lewis saved Nick Gordon's weak shot from 15 yards.

Fitter's late free-kick flew across the face of goal but Evesham's fate is still in their own hands and victory at Barton on Saturday could clinch an extension to their league campaign.