Pershore 4, Market Drayton 2

THE home side, despite carrying a number of injuries, were in determined mood as they sought welcome success.

Pershore started well and dominated the early stages but struggled to convert pressure into goals.

As the half progressed Market Drayton came into the game and won a number of short corners. Pershore held firm until one such set-piece took a lucky deflection, which took the ball into the path of an oncoming forward.

Pershore responded in positive fashion with Speake probing and working tirelessly up front, allowing Matt Hughes on the right hand side to torment the Drayton defence.

This led to a string of short corners and Pershore had ten practices before Owen Joyce finally converted one from close-range.

They continued to press and had a number of opportunities to score but were kept at bay by some solid defending.

Pershore continued to win short corners at regular intervals and, with all the practice, it was surely only a matter of time before they converted another.

That moment came just before half-time when a good run by Hughes was curtailed by a cynical foul inside the circle and Joyce found the net following an exceptional dummy by Rushin.

Pershore had the bulk of possession after restart with the visitors being limited to breakaways. One of these led to a goal after a number of missed tackles before the otherwise reliable Wright forgot that keeping the ball out of the net was one of his duties and totally missed his kick as the ball trickled towards the line.

The hosts saw another disappointing result looming but rallied to put together some of their best hockey of the season.

After several chances a sideline hit was passed to Rushin in the circle who in turn passed it on to Hughes whose shot was deceptively under hit. It took a deft touch by Hughes to deflect the ball in the net.

As the game drew to a close another good run was finished off by Hughes who beat his man and then the keeper to complete his hat-trick.