EVESHAM United clinched promotion from the Southern League Division One South with a 1-0 win against local rivals Malvern Town in the play-off final.
The game’s only goal came on 63 minutes as Levi Steele’s effort looped into the net at the Spiers and Hartwell Stadium.
Evesham held on over the remaining minutes to secure promotion with Mike Ford’s side to play at Step Three next season.
The game took place in front of a club-record 2,949 spectators.
Evesham finished two places and five points above Malvern in the league and had home advantage in the play-off final by virtue of finishing higher up in the table.
Malvern spurned a glorious chance to take the lead when Sam Clark and Jack Watts exchanged passes in the box before the latter squared the ball to Harry Clark.
However, Evesham goalkeeper Alex Harris made a crucial save with his foot to keep the scores level.
The home side went close at the other end as Andre Wright released Steele only for Ryan Smallwood to save the striker’s effort with his feet.
And Evesham threatened again soon after when Harris sent a long kick up the pitch only for Dion Molyneux to put enough pressure on Steele as the ball ran through to Smallwood.
Smallwood made another save later in the half as he comfortably claimed Wright’s looping header.
Malvern felt they should have had a penalty early in the second half when Joe Tumelty went to ground in the box under a challenge from Will Owens.
However, the referee quickly waved away Malvern’s protests.
The Hilsiders almost took the lead soon after as Harris made a fine reaction save low down to his left to keep out Joe Bullock’s header following a long throw from the right.
Malvern were screaming for another penalty moments later with the Hillsiders claiming a header from a corner struck the arm of an Evesham player in the box with the referee again unmoved.
However, Evesham broke the deadlock on 63 minutes when Owens delivered a cross from the left and Steele’s deflected header from eight-yards out looped over Smallwood.
The back-tracking Malvern goalkeeper could only push the ball into the roof of the net as Steele wheeled away in celebration.
Malvern searched for an equaliser as Tumelty curled a free-kick over the crossbar from 25-yards out.
And Charlie Johnson then delivered a dangerous ball into the box from the left which substitute Ryan Brunt headed narrowly over the crossbar.
A long throw from the right then caused a scrambled in the box before the Robins eventually cleared their lines.
More long throws came into the Evesham box as a near-post header landed on the roof of the net.
However, Evesham held on to clinch promotion and deny their rivals a place at Step Three next season.
