Pershore 2, West Bromwich 3

SATURDAY'S league game was played at a frantic pace and a high level of intensity.

Pershore opened the scoring with a somewhat fortunate finish as a goalline clearance hit Gareth Rushton's stick and bounced back over the goalline.

West Brom responded quickly and, despite the heroics of Stuart White in goal, levelled from a short corner.

The hosts soon regained the lead after some good work by Guy Dale-Smith and James Rayner found Matt Hughes who scored from an acute angle.

In the dying seconds of the half, the visitors converted another short corner to leave the game evenly poised at the break.

The second half was a more gritty affair with both sides receiving green cards, for poor tackling and fraying tempers and eventually the umpires, who had done a very good job in keeping control of the match, lost their patience with West Brom's central midfield player and despatched him from the pitch.

Pershore should really have taken the lead again when Dale-Smith rounded the keeper only to finish with an unbelievably weak shot.

West Brom then took the lead for the first time but the pendulum swung again as Pershore pressed forward and they were unlucky not to find an equaliser as the goalkeeper made two good saves before being rescued by a magnificent head high clearance by a defender.

A visit to mid-Wales to face Newtown is next on the agenda as Pershore try to get their bid for promotion back on course.

Pershore II 1, Streetly II 0

A BATTLING all-round display earned three valuable points for Saturday's hosts.

Paul Bozward, Ben Wright and Liam Booles stood out as a strong Streetly side tried to consolidate their position at the top of the table.

The away side never relented in their efforts, but on the odd occasion that they managed to pierce the home defence, found Booles in outstanding form.

Pershore always posed a threat with Powell driving them forward at every opportunity and they took the lead with a scrambled effort that finally crossed the line after hitting the stick of a surprised James Hector.

The win confirms Pershore as definite promotion candidates as mid season approaches.

Kingswinford III 0, Pershore III 3

A MAGNIFICENT goal from Neil Herman set Pershore up for another three points when he beat three defenders before calmly placing the ball into the back of the net.

Further goals from the Handley brothers, Graham and Anthony, underlined Pershore's dominance in an excellent performance from a side containing seven players aged 17 or under.

The youngsters are certainly benefiting from playing alongside the vastly experienced quartet of Herman, Tom Handley, Phil Taylor and Pete Moreby and that bodes well for the future.