PERSHORE Town will face ‘13 cup finals’ between now and the end of the season in what has become a relegation battle.
Manager Quentin Townsend warned Pershore need at least four wins in the final three months in the Midland League Division One campaign to ensure they are safe.
Town slipped to a 11th defeat in 12 league matches after last weekend’s 4-1 reverse to Lichfield City and fell into the bottom two after Studley and Stafford Town both chalked up wins to leapfrog them.
“We are in a relegation fight now, without a doubt,” said Townsend.
“We’ve got to understand that. It’s got to dawn on the players that we are in a real battle.
“We got 13 cup finals now to make sure we don’t go down. Studley got a win against Southam, who look doomed at the bottom, and Stafford produced a shock to beat Heather so it all worked against us.
“It’s tough but it has made me even more determined to finish in a respectable position. I don’t want a relegation on my CV.”
Pershore could do with a change of fortune after Townsend’s planning was scuppered last weekend when three players pulled out at the last minute, forcing the boss to pull on his boots, two days before his 40th birthday.
Then, after an even opening half an hour, Lichfield’s first goal came in flukish circumstances when keeper Shaun Edwards’ punch from a corner smacked into the head of a team-mate and into the net.
“They always say that when you’re struggling, you don’t the rub of the green and that seems the case at the moment,” said Townsend.
“I had to completely change the set-up just before kick-off which was far from ideal and then to concede in the way we did was really hard to take.
“But it has happened and we need to learn from it. We need to that mental strength to stay positive even when thing are tough.”
Pershore have added to their squad by signing left-back Chris Whittaker from Cradley and he comes into contention for the trip to Heath Hayes on Saturday.
“We’ve been crying out for a left-back and we’ve had James Walker playing there when he is a right-footed centre-half. Hopefully Chris will give us some stability,” said Townsend.
Pershore also hope playmaker Dean Waldron will recover from illness to make his debut after joining from Worcester City. Chris Priest is the only absentee as he is unavailable.