Evesham United’s draw at Bideford has all-but guaranteed their involvement in the Southern League Division One South and West play-offs.
They are six points ahead of North Leigh with two games left, but their goal difference is 20 better than the Oxfordshire club’s.
Paul Collicutt’s men will face either Taunton Town, Tiverton Town or Salisbury in an away semi-final.
Ben Watson put Bideford in front after 19 minutes with a left-footed drive, but Adam Mann’s 35th minute goal earned Evesham a point. Manns’ shot from the edge of the penalty area took a deflection off Chris McGrath, which in turn wrong-footed the goalkeeper enough for the ball to roll just beyond him.
The game opened up a bit more in the second-half and the hosts had plenty of opportunities to re-take the lead.
However, Evesham nearly got a late winner with three minutes remaining when Matt Andrew was dispossessed in the middle of the park. Jordan Bryan pinched the ball and ran through on goal only to blast his shot over the bar.
Leading scorer Lance Smith made his return from an ankle injury as a substitute in the 61st minute.
Midfielder Bradley Gray also went on after recovering from a similar problem, but he was forced off again after less than 10 minutes with a recurrence of his ankle injury and now looks set to miss the rest of the season.
Evesham play Hereford at home on Monday before rounding off the campaign at AFC Totton next Saturday.
Evesham United: K Sawyer; L Dovey, M Williams, N Stanley; G Preen (L Smith 61), A Haskayne, A Williams, J Bryan, L Binns (B Gray 69, M Magee 78); A Mann, P Fahy.
Subs not used: Gilder, Odeiro
Attendance: 257.
Full report to follow.
