GOALS from Will Fletcher and Simon Griffin in the first-half did the damage for Hamworthy United as Evesham United had their promotion hopes ended at the semi-final stage of the Southern League Division One South play-offs. 

The Robins did show some fight at the start of the second-half and had chances to get themselves back in the game, but a penalty from captain Tony Rolls just before the hour effectively ended the tie. 

Eddie Hodge proved a thorn in the Robins' side throughout the opening 45 minutes and it was his two pin-point crosses from the right wing that provided Fletcher and Griffin with easy finishes to give The Hammers a deserved 2-0 lead at the break.

Evesham came from two goals down to beat AFC Totton last Saturday to reach the play-offs and they threatened to get back into the contest after the break when a couple of Ricky Johnson efforts were hacked off the line and William Owens was denied when one-on-one with Hamworthy keeper Tommy Scott.

Evesham Journal: Evesham United's William Owens could not convert his one-on-one early in the second-half.Evesham United's William Owens could not convert his one-on-one early in the second-half. (Image: Stuart Purfield)

But, as has been their problem throughout the regular season, Mike Ford's side could not capitalise on their early dominance in the second-half and just after Owens' golden opportunity, Hamworthy extended their lead to extinguish any chance of another dramatic Evesham comeback. 

Captain Charlie Wise was adjudged to have felled Hammers' Cam Munn in the box as the forward burst forward. It was perhaps slightly soft and there was minimal contact, but Wise gave the referee a decision to make. 

Evesham keeper Joshua Nicol got a big hand to the resulting penalty but it was not enough to keep Rolls' effort out and with half-an-hour to play, the result was settled. 

The Robins' continued to push for a route back into the tie but as the minutes ticked down, hope faded and their disappointing night was summed up in stoppage time when Kyle Belmonte, who hadn't had a kick all night, fired a penalty wide of the goal.

Evesham Journal: Evesham's Kyle Belmonte fires a late penalty wide of the markEvesham's Kyle Belmonte fires a late penalty wide of the mark (Image: Stuart Purfield)

Owens, who was the bright spark for the visitors, had driven forward and was fouled in the area but a consolation goal went begging and Hamworthy celebrated their progression to the play-off final with Sholing on Monday.