MANAGER Paul Collicutt admitted Lady Luck had blessed Evesham United against play-off rivals Winchester City but insisted: “We were well worth the three points.”

Adam Mann’s goal was enough for a 1-0 win at the Jubilee Stadium as the Robins bounced back from back-to-back losses against other promotion contenders.

City pelted the post and had a credible penalty shout waved away by referee Andy Ellis in the first half but United stood firm to climb to fifth in the table.

“Winchester have had some good results of late and up there with us looking to get in the play-offs,” said Collicutt.

“We had the rub of the green with a couple of situations that maybe we had missed out on in other weeks.

“We dominated the first part of the game but then they hit the post from nothing. We rode our luck a bit there and the turning point came when their lad went down in the penalty area.

“The referee was positioned very well and waved play on. I have seen a lot of referees give penalties for less.

“We had that bit of fortune but I am a great believer that you make your own luck and on the day, I thought we were well worth the three points.

“No doubt they would have felt they could have got a result out of it had one or two decisions dropped their way but that’s football. I was pleased with the result and the attitude of the lads.

“We needed a response after the performance we had put in the week before (in the 2-0 defeat at Swindon Supermarine).”

Evesham’s gruelling run of five straight matches against fellow promotion contenders continues on Friday at home to Bideford (2pm).

The charge for the end-of-season promotion seems destined to go to the wire with the Robins one point off third but only five clear of Winchester in 11th with seven games to play.

All bar two of the 10 challengers for third to sixth have played fewer matches than United, including Bideford who trail by four points with four games in hand.

“Ours is the only game on in the division on Friday and it will be something a bit different for us,” said Collicutt.

“Hopefully we can get a few more people there, perhaps a few who might not usually get to an Evesham United match because of playing or whatever else and that can rally the boys to another win.

“It will be a tough game, it always is against Bideford but we have to back ourselves, especially at home, to go out and get the right result.”

Jordan Bryan, who was withdrawn in the first half on Saturday with a back injury, and defender Andy Lewis are doubts. The emigrating Paul Fahy has now left.

Captain Linden Dovey and midfielder Archie Haskayne remain suspended, although the former will be back for the Bank Holiday Monday trip to Shortwood United (3pm).

“Jordan will be a miss. He started like a steam train on Saturday but had to come off, it was a shame because he had been doing well,” said Collicutt.