Redditch Ladies 0 Pershore Ladies 3
Worcestershire League Division One
PERSHORE Ladies earned an excellent victory at a Redditch side who, although out of form, went into Saturday’s match with genuine hopes of winning the league.
Those hopes may have suffered a fresh setback, but this was nevertheless a fine win for Pershore who attacked strongly and were patient in their build-up play, transferring well through Nicki Sheppard in the centre out to both wing backs Amanda Barnes and Zoe Nicholson.
Pershore worked hard to create chances and the midfield of Kate Adams, Heidi Deacon, Dani Cook and Emma Gardner ran hard to create spaces to allow the flow of the ball through to the attacking half of the pitch.
Pershore’s first goal came towards the end of the first half and had a patient build-up, ending with Gardner smashing home a great reverse stick shot.
Redditch came back strongly in the second half and had numerous chances on goal, but were continually denied by Pershore’s outstanding goalkeeper Lucy Jeffs and centre back Emily Capaldi.
Pershore remained strong and their second goal came from a long pass along the right from Deacon, picked up by a strong run by Emma Millichap who fed Adams to convert.
The visitors struck again when Gardner beat three players in midfield before scoring to put the icing on the cake.
Pershore host local rivals Evesham & Badsey on Saturday, followed by a rearranged game at Harborne 4ths on Sunday.
Pershore 5 Droitwich 0
West Midlands Division One
PERSHORE found some much-needed form as they defeated fellow Worcestershire outfit Droitwich on Saturday.
The home team dominated the visitors and captain Russ Scudamore soon opened the scoring by pouncing on a loose ball and finishing from a tight angle.
Efforts from Graham Handley were kept out but the second goal came quickly from Russ McGettigan with a tap-in at the back post from a Gareth Rushton pass.
Droitwich found themselves pressing hard to score, stretching Pershore’s defence, and some fine saves from keeper Jack Leach and goalline clearances from Rushton kept them out.
Pershore came out fighting in the second half and Scudamore struck again by thundering the ball home for his second.
He soon completed his hat-trick with a short corner strike from an Ed Deacon pass and Deacon also scored when he slid in to divert Karl Lawson’s effort home.
Fourth placed Pershore visit leaders Old Wulfrunians on Saturday.
