TWO away wins with clean sheets inside less than 48 hours has put Evesham United at the head of the play-off pack and in control of their own destiny.

On Thursday, the Robins saw through a professional 4-0 victory at Shortwood United before claiming a 2-0 triumph at Mangotsfield United on Saturday.

Mat Liddiard headed in a Nick Hancock cross midway through the first half at Shortwood with an Adam Mann brace in the last 10 minutes before the interval sealing the points.

A mazy run and finish made it two on 36 minutes with Mann plundering his second and Evesham’s third from another Hancock centre moments later.

Cameron Ebbutt hit the crossbar 11 minutes from the end but there was still time for loan signing Olly Mehew to mark his first start with the fourth at the death.

“Shortwood was a very difficult place to go and I was pleased to come away with the result we did,” said manager Paul Collicutt.

“During my time as a manager, I have not often left there with three points so it was good.

“It might not have been the greatest of games but we got what we needed from it so the lads deserve credit.”

At Mangotsfield, the goals came in the last five minutes of the first half with Mann breaking the deadlock in style.

Evesham’s top scorer produced a fine individual goal after a long run with a shot that fizzed into the bottom corner.

Mehew then linked up well with Jordan Bryan whose low cross was returned to the Forest Green prospect to tuck in from eight yards out.

“Mangotsfield was a strange game,” said Collicutt. “While I felt we deserved to win, we have played better than that and lost this season.

“We did okay and took advantage of a couple of breaks to go into half-time 2-0 up. Mangotsfield were dangerous, they played without pressure because they are not involved at either end of the table and that showed.

“Again, the lads saw it through and we were pleased to get the points.”

The double made it six wins out of seven for Evesham going into the final week of the season with eight teams still in the running to fill four play-off places.

With some having as many as three matches to play going into tonight’s fixtures, all bar one could still overhaul United.

The Robins do have the comfort of knowing a win in their only remaining league fixture at home to AFC Totton on Saturday (3pm), one of the contenders that could be out of the race by then, will secure a coveted top-six finish.

“In all my years in management, I have never known a season like it,” said Collicutt.

“We cannot take anything for granted until we are there and Totton will not make life easy for us, I can assure anyone of that.

“You only have to look at Slimbridge to see how unpredictable it all is. They got beaten 9-0 on Thursday and then went and won against Bideford 4-3.

“I didn’t see that one coming and it just goes to show you cannot safely assume anything this season.”