QUENTIN TOWNSEND admitted to a ‘bitter-sweet’ feeling after Pershore Town halted their losing run with a determined display.
Town claimed their first point after seven successive defeats after battling to a goalless draw with top six side Leicester Road.
It was an encouraging display but the sense of satisfaction faded when the Town manager realised they had slipped into the bottom two in the Midland League Division One after Cadbury Athletic and Nuneaton Griff bagged wins.
However, only two points separate 17th-placed Stafford Town and 21st-placed Pershore and Townsend is convinced they are heading in the right direction.
“Leicester Road must hate playing us because that’s the first point they have got from a possible 12,” said Townsend.
“It was a really positive performance but then I went into the bar and checked out the table and we had fallen into the bottom team. That was bitter-sweet.
“There was plenty of positives. They were the better team but they couldn’t break us down, and then when they had a couple of players sent off late on and we were pushing and pushing.
“After all that, to get a point against a top six team, to halt that seven-match losing run and to keep a clean sheet, gives us a lot to build on.”
Pershore have been without key players in recent weeks and Townsend will again have to shuffle his ranks tomorrow (Saturday) when they welcome Lichfield City to the King George Stadium.
Centre-backs Dean Waldron and James Walker are both unavailable while Oli Saunders will face a fitness test. Shaun Griffiths remains on the sidelines but Will Stallard will able to resume. Ben Lane and Pawel Tomczak will also return after being unavailable last week.
“Lichfield will be another really difficult fixture but then we have a run of games through November and December against teams in and around us,” said Townsend.
“I’m confident we will start to put a winning run together.
Top scorer Jamie Clarke will be missing for the next few matches but he will still have a role to play.
Clarke’s move to the US is on hold but he has been playing for the England Deaf futsal side, as well as preparing to play for the Deaflympics side.
The striker, who remains Town’s top scorer, showed his finishing prowess with the futsal side, scoring twice against Scotland.