PERSHORE Town endured a frustrating three days as Saturday’s abandoned league game at Southam United – called to a halt with the visitors cruising to victory at 4-0 up – was followed by a 10-0 cup thumping at Highgate United on Monday.
On Saturday, Quentin Townsend’s men were 4-0 up against the manager’s former club Southam with just 18 minutes remaining when the referee abandoned the match due to heavy fog.
To add to the frustration, only ten minutes after the abandonment the fog cleared, which called into question the officials declining Pershore’s request for a short break before deciding whether to abandon the Midland League Division One match.
Town were 2-0 up within 18 minutes after firstly Jamie Clarke – on his return from work commitments for his first match in six weeks – fired past the keeper having been put through by Luke Church.
Louis Bridges then increased the lead with a shot from a narrow angle helped by a deflection off the defender as the ball looped into the far corner of the net.
Town dominated proceedings throughout and, had it not been for Southam’s keeper making several good saves, the margin would have been far higher.
Clarke added his second when he again got away from his defender scored past the advancing keeper before Bridges also doubled his tally on 65 minutes with a neat finish at the near post following Will Gayton’s ball into the box.
It was a Monday night to forget for Pershore when they visited Premier Division outfit Highgate in the Polymac Packaging League Cup last 16.
This was always going to be a difficult tie for Town and, with more than half of the usual starting team unavailable due to suspension, injury and illness, the task was made much harder.
Highgate’s McCauley Manning, who scored five goals, and ex-Worcester City striker Marco Adaggio, who netted a hat-trick, were in prolific form as they demonstrated clinical finishing.
The hosts’ first seven goals were scored from nine shots in just over half an hour.
To Town’s credit, they continued to battle, showing no desire to surrender despite the result not being in doubt after only ten minutes.
Pershore entertain Littleton in a local derby on Tuesday, December 27 (7.45pm) before another home game against Coventry Copsewood on new year’s eve (1pm).
Then comes the visit to title favourites Bromsgrove Sporting on January 2 (3pm).
