EVESHAM United secured their Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West play-off place but did it the hard way.

They came back from two goals down at a sun-drenched Jubilee Stadium to defeat struggling Wantage Town 5-2.

United knew a draw would be enough to cement a top-five place but trailed to a Ben Whitehead brace after just 17 minutes.

A Nick Stanley screamer started the comeback before further strikes by Ashley Edenborough (2), Adam Mann and returning skipper Matt Sysum made it a comfortable win in the end for Paul Collicutt’s men.

The Robins take their run of 12 undefeated games to sixth-placed play-off chasers Didcot Town on Saturday (3pm).

When pursuing their eighth league double of the season, United looked sluggish at the start against relegation-threatened Wantage, who took a second-minute lead.

Keeper Kevin Sawyer made contact with Whitehead in the box when attempting to clear and the Wantage striker got up to tuck away the resulting penalty.

Poor defending allowed Whitehead to race clear and easily fire the visitors into a shock 2-0 lead.

Slowly but surely, Evesham put their game together and Stanley pulled a goal back after 32 minutes with a rocket shot that flew into the top corner.

It was not long before the scores were level courtesy of Edenborough’s close-range finish after a neat build-up down the left.

Before Edenborough’s equaliser, however, it did not look as though it would be United’s day.

Lance Smith struck the bar and Lee Smith rattled a post in quick succession.

United started the second-half with a sense of purpose and went ahead for the first time on 57 minutes through Adam Mann, who followed up to score after keeper Gareth Tucker saved from Lee Smith.

From this point, there was only going to be one winner and a fourth United goal arrived in the 69th minute when defender Sysum hooked in his 10th of the season.

Confidence was now oozing and it was soon 5-2 when Edenborough completed the scoring, glancing in a header from Marcus Jackson’s free-kick.

Evesham: Sawyer, Jackson, Wellon (Slack 59), Harding, Sysum, Dovey, Lance Smith, Stanley, Edenborough, Mann (Brown 80), Lee Smith (Washbourne 62).

Attendance: 301.