EVESHAM United are now just one point away from booking their place in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West play-offs courtesy of Lance Smith’s winning goal five minutes from time.

The former Badsey Rangers striker and last season’s leading scorer came off the bench and got on the end of Marcus Jackson’s inswinging corner to prod in the decisive goal past Town keeper Alex Harris in a tense affair at the Jubilee Stadium.

Both sides went into the match protecting impressive unbeaten runs, Cinderford arriving in the Vale with five straight wins under their belts and Paul Collicutt’s men undefeated in 10.

In front of a bumper crowd, Evesham started like a train, resulting in Ashley Edenborough planting a couple of early headers into the side netting. But, after just three minutes, the Robins’ positive approach was rewarded with the opening goal.

The Cinderford defence failed to clear George Washbourne’s corner and Lee Smith pounced to blast home at the back post.

Harris was in the thick of the action soon after, getting a fist to Washbourne’s dangerous looking free kick and then gathering low down from the lively Edenborough.

But not sooner had the second half started, the Foresters were back on level terms through Ethan Moore, who caught Kevin Sawyer in no-man’s land to lob the ball over the keeper.

For a spell, Cinderford were on the front foot and Sawyer was kept on his toes making a fine save to his left from Bobbie Dale and then finger-tipping behind a Kieran Thomas volley.

Play switched to the other end when Adam Mann got in behind the visitors’ defence but pulled his shot wide with only Harris to beat.

United then had a let off when Liam Harding came to the hosts’ rescue with a fine goal-line clearance when Moore looked certain to find the net with a well directed header.

Play flowed from end to end before Lance Smith settled the game in United’s favour, arriving unmarked in the six-yard box in the 85th minute with a clinical finish which gave Harris no chance.

Evesham United: Sawyer, Harding, Stanley, Brown, Slack, Dovey, Washbourne (Lance Smith 61), Wilson (Jackson 44), Edenborough, Mann, Lee Smith. Subs not used: Wellon, Binns. Attendance: 430.