Pershore Town avenged a 4-1 defeat on the opening day of the season when they beat visitors Shirley Town 5-2 in the Midland Combination Premier Division, with midfielder Jonathan Gregory scoring a hat trick.

Pershore went ahead only 52 seconds into the match, when a Chris Jew cross was cleverly controlled by Richard Congrave to drive in from close range.

Shirley equalised in the ninth minute, Lee Martin breaking through a disorganised defence to score with a low drive.

Most of the first half went downhill, both teams struggling to put passes together. But Pershore did make another break through in the 41st minute, Congrave providing the pass for Gregory to blast home his first goal then in the second minute of first-half injury-time Gregory fired in his second.

Pressed

At the start of the second-half Shirley pressed forward and in the 59th minute they were awarded a penalty after a Tim Concannon foul on Martin. However, Neil Turner saved Martin's spot-kick.

One minute later a free-kick outside the Pershore box saw Matt Devine's effort deflect off a defender into the top corner of the net to make it 3-2.

Pershore took over again and the pressure paid off when in the 74th minute striker Lee Tustin powered his way past the Shirley defence to blast in a great goal from the edge of the box.

Six minutes later the skilful Congrave dribbled the ball up the goal-line to set up Gregory to drive in and complete his hat-trick.

Pershore: Turner, Haines (Emerson 46), Jew, T. Concannon, Fulloway, Gregory, Brain, Maidment, Congrave (Pincher 69), Tustin, Court (Russell 75).