Pershore II 2, Stafford II 1

AT LONG last Pershore got the result their play deserved in the penultimate DTZ League match of the year.

Stafford began strongly testing Longhi in the Pershore goal on several occasions and scored the opening goal with a clever deflection.

Pershore then came more into the game with Taylor and Emsley running the midfield and Curley taking advantage of some inch perfect passing from the defence to show how to lead the line.

Intelligent positional changes by the Pershore captain led to them exerting ever more pressure, but it was a relief when Jones got on the end of a fierce pass from Taylor to fire the ball past the Stafford keeper.

The first half ended with both sides satisfied with their efforts and looking to build on the good platform they had established.

The second half was almost a repeat with both defences working hard to keep the forwards at bay. Walker fired just wide for Pershore and Rushin guided a good Stafford short corner past the post.

Eventually, Passmore, who had spent most of the game somewhere near the right wing, picked up a loose ball and surprised the Stafford defence with a fierce shot from 16 yards into the far corner.

Stafford then really turned up the heat on the Pershore defence, which with the forwards and the central midfield starting to tire, had to fight for every ball as though their lives depended upon it.

Several times, Palmer, making up for the error that led to the Stafford goal, got the ball away at the last moment to maintain the lead.

Pershore travel to bottom club Rugeley on Saturday hoping that this result will herald the start of a good run for the rest of the season.