TWO goals by Richard Ball revived Evesham United's promotion hopes after a 3-1 victory against Burnham at Common Road.

The striker produced two clinical finishes, one in each half, to secure Evesham's fourth league double and take his own tally to three goals in five league games.

After surviving an early score when Michael Bartley struck an upright, Evesham soon settled and in the end there was only going to be one winner.

Miles Norman cleared Jermaine Clarke's header off the line before both Gavin O'Toole and Ball went close.

But the pressure finally told on 31 minutes when United took the lead.

Ball fastened onto a pass from Anthony Watson, shrugged off the challenge of a Burnham defender and fired past Dave Dyson in the visitors' goal.

The second-half followed a similar pattern to the first with Evesham having the lion's share of possession.

But they had to wait until the last 15 minutes before putting the game beyond Burnham's reach.

Ball turned provider when his defence-splitting pass set up sub Danny Williams and he made no mistake, coolly slotting home to make it 2-0.

Then, with five minutes to play, O'Toole released Ball who got goal-side of his marker and composed himself to net from a narrow angle.

The visitors did not give up and there was still time for Bartley, Burnham's most dangerous player, to pull a goal back with a simple tap-in following a Rob Saunders cross.

Evesham: T Clarke 6, Watson 7, O'Sullivan 6, Knight 7, Hamilton 7, O'Toole 7, Fitter 6, Duncan 6, *Ball 8, J Clarke 6 (D Williams 58, 6), Burrow (Pinkney 14, 6). Subs not used: Hands, S Williams, Lewis.

Attendance: 171.