Atherstone Adders 0,

Pershore 4

THE previous week's draw with Newtown, then leaders of the Coaching Solutions West Midland Division Two, was a good result and it was even more important that Pershore took all three points against a side in the bottom half of the table.

In the first exchanges it seemed as if the visitors had been frozen out by the rapidly decreasing temperature and they spent much of the first 15 minutes on the back foot.

Even their occasional attack seemed doomed as Toby Whiting was felled in the D but the decision was unbelievably given the other way.

Short corners then proved the key to the game with well-worked moves resulting in goals from Garth Rushton.

Atherstone already looked beaten and, when Ben Wright, Pete Powell and Andy Wright found their communication in defence, Pershore's goal once again looked secure.

The third goal provided the highlight of the match. Right back Rushton released Russell Scudamore who linked up with Anthony Handley before setting up Whiting's drive to the right byline.

Energetic

A textbook cross was finished at the near post by the energetic Richard Lisle.

Scudamore then impressed once again, chasing a lost cause past the keeper then setting up Handley three yards from goal who obligingly tucked the ball away for a deserved fourth.

Two critical fixtures now follow in the shape of Kynock and Barlaston and those results will determine whether Pershore still have the goal of promotion going into the Christmas break.

The second team players were sidelined because of the fog.

P W D L F A Pts

Newtown 8 7 1 0 40 8 22

Kynoch 8 7 0 0 22 19 21

Pershore 8 5 2 1 35 10 17

Berks & Balsall 8 5 1 2 42 18 16

Kingswinford 8 5 0 3 34 13 15

Barlaston 8 5 0 3 17 14 15

Ludlow 8 3 0 5 23 26 9

Chad Corbett 8 3 0 5 20 32 9

Ather Adders 8 2 0 6 11 22 6

Malvern 8 2 0 3 16 46 6

Standard 8 1 1 6 11 25 4

Aston Univ 8 0 1 7 6 44 1

Pershore III 0,

Kidderminster III 1

IN FREEZING and murky conditions Pershore started slowly and allowed the visitors to dominate the early exchanges.

Excellent defending by Luke Dalley and Liam Ridings, agile goalkeeping and a bit of luck, however, prevented Kidder-minster taking the lead.

Pershore then started playing some good hockey but were unable to create any clear-cut chances.

Kidderminster then started pressurising the Pershore defence and several short corners resulted - one of which controversially awarded and one that brought the game's solitary goal.

The second half was a midfield battle and supremacy switched between the two teams with excellent performances by Rob Handley and Graham Handley.

Sadly, this didn't result in any shots on target but did lead to Kidderminster taking a more aggressive attitude and they were able to dominate the younger home side.

Pershore can count themselves unlucky for the second week running not to get more from the game but the performances from the young players are becoming increasingly notable and results will inev-itably come soon.