AFTER a clean sheet on Saturday in a 1-0 win at Brocton, Pershore Town found themselves two goals behind in the early stages of Tuesday night's Midland Combination Premier Division clash with Shifnal Town.

Matty Edwards also had to endure vastly differing fortunes as the scorer of the only goal last ended up in hospital after suffering a nasty head injury.

Chris Workman, deputising for regular goalkeeper Jamie Lambert, had to pick the ball out of the net twice in the opening ten minutes.

However, Tim Beattie halved the arrears before Andy Hodgetts made it 2-2 with a screamer from 25 yards.

That was the signal or the Shropshire side to up the tempo, while the hosts' defence suddenly became ragged.

Shifnal fired in three goals without reply but, when Perry Beddoes netted directly from a corner ten minutes from time, Town were back in with a shout.

And, had Andy Clements not fluffed a glorious chance moments later, a 5-5 draw wouldn't have been out of the question.

As it happened, the visitors hung leaving Town boss Andy Robbins praying that his defence regroups ahead of Saturday's Endsleigh Challenge Cup semi-final second leg tie against Feckenham.

The sides shared two goals at King George's earlier this month and another tight contest is anticipated at Redditch United's Valley Stadium.

Robbins will be missing the cup tied Edwards and Mark Gledhill this weekend but will welcome back Lambert, Mark Bellamy, Jamie Bird and Chris Wright.

Town are back in league action next Tuesday night when they visit Cadbury Athletic.