A FLUCTUATING FA Cup second qualifying round tie saw Evesham almost throw away a two-goal lead before Danny Scheppel clinched victory five minutes from time.

The Robins made a dream start when a terrific volley from Mark Owen gave them the lead with barely a minute on the clock.

However, Quorn then missed two glorious chances to level before the visitors contrived to waste several chances of their own.

Owen and James Knott were the chief culprits but the former couldn't have done any better after 28 minutes when his shot was turned on to the crossbar by home keeper Daniel Haystead.

The impressive Allando Davis twice tried his luck from distance before the UniBond League side staged a rally as the half drew to a close that saw Nathan Vaughan make a terrific diving stop to keep out a 37th-minute header from Robert Betts.

Three minutes later and the Robins finally doubled their lead when Knott skipped past a couple of challenges before slotting a left-footer into the corner.

Quorn made a couple of attacking changes for the second-half which deteriorated into a scrappy affair as chances at both ends dried up.

A couple of ugly melees added to the tension and Evesham were made to pay for sitting back when Jamie Clarke volleyed past a limping Vaughan in the 69th minute.

Michael Hayden almost capped a fine display with a third goal for Paul West's men 17 minutes from time but Haystead made a fine stop before keeping out the follow-up from Steve Lutz.

The Quorn keeper then denied substitute Daniel Lennon before opposite number Vaughan produced a stunning save to prevent Clarke making it 2-2 from close-range six minutes from time.

Sixty seconds later and Lennon was again denied by the goalkeeper but fellow substitute Scheppel was on hand to chip the rebound over Haystead.

A late tackle on Simon Fitter then saw Nigel Julien red-carded and the visitors could have added two more in the closing moments with Fitter's free-kick flashing inches wide and the lively Lennon again being thwarted by Haystead.