Southam United 1 Pershore Town 2
Midland Football League Division One
PERSHORE secured an impressive victory at Southam – now managed by former Town and Hereford United centre half Quentin Townsend – on Tuesday.
The hosts, starting the match with four players from last season’s Town side, began the much better team as Chris Bright hit the crossbar with a left-footed strike from 15 yards and visiting keeper Andrew Yarnold was forced into a couple of good early saves.
It took the visitors more than 20 minutes to settle but they finished the first half stronger, having gone close through George Coley and Dave Edwards shots.
Pershore took the lead after 55 minutes when Joe Walsh’s free kick was diverted by Edwards into the path of Matt Mitchell, who scored from close range.
Town increased their lead 20 minutes later when substitute Connor Trotman scored with only his second touch, converting with a left-footed shot from 12 yards after Southam failed to clear a corner.
The hosts went close with a couple of efforts late in the match and scored with five minutes remaining through a Tom Cooper header, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal.
Pershore entertain high-flying Highgate United at the Winstanley King George V Stadium on Saturday before visiting Dudley Sports in the Worcestershire Senior Urn on Tuesday.
Pershore were beaten 3-0 at higher ranked Walsall Wood in the FA Vase second qualifying round on Saturday.
Whilst the hosts were the better team and led 3-0 at half time, Town had a good spell just before the break and Steve Roche – having been taken down by the keeper – took the resultant penalty, only to hit the bar.
Two minutes later Grant Baker was clean through but was denied by Wood’s keeper.
LITTLETON, who visit Pilkington XXX on Saturday, remain top of Midland Football League Division One despite a 2-1 home defeat to Coventry outfit Alvis Sporting Club, for whom Michael Healy scored two late goals to clinch the points.