Pershore 2, Whitchurch 0

THE second DTZ game of the season saw a much-changed side take to the pitch with Vinnie Crowley, Richard Lisle and Jamie Hughes al returning to the side.

The game began brightly with penetrating attacks down the right spearheaded by Hughes.

The first goal followed Richard Lisle's run to the by-line and subsequent cross that resulted in a well executed finish from Crowley who lifted the ball over the keeper.

The second half began with the visitors on the attack but the Pershore defence, well manned by Hawkes, Rushin and Attwood, kept out any attacking thrusts.

The game then turned with a badly timed tackle from Whitchurch's centre back resulting in a ten-minute sin-bin that allowed Pershore to press home their advantage with a third goal of the season from Whiting.

The game finished with Whitchurch battling hard for some reward but Pershore's defence held strong for their first win of the season thanks to vital tackles from Ridsdale and some good, if slightly unorthodox, saves from stand-in keeper Rushton.

The next DTZ game is against New-town on Saturday.

Rugeley II 1, Pershore II 2

The club's second string continued their successful start to the league season with an unconvincing win.

In the first half, Pershore had great difficulty getting to grips with the hard bouncy pitch, resulting in scrappy play from both sides.

Frustrated by this, Pershore pushed forward more and more, leading to a breakaway goal by the home team.

This shocked Pershore into action and led to constant

pressure on the Rugeley goal for the rest of the half. Pershore were finally rewarded by a simple tap in goal scored by Hughes junior.

A tactical switch at half-time led to Pershore running the show in the second half.

With Mike Handley dominating midfield and some tenacious running by captain Passmore, the visitors had many chances to win the game easily.

However, following a number of great chances going to waste, Handley finally scored the winner.

Pershore III 1,

Old Halesonians III 2

PERSHORE, as usual, started far too slowly in this DTZ League match and soon found themselves two goals down.

However, they got into their stride and, with Tom Handley, Gary Tucker and Rob Curley controlling the midfield,

started to make serious inroads into the Old Halesonian's defence.

Liam Ridings showed excellent pace and a good degree of skill on the right wing and the pressure finally told.

Tucker it was who set up Mike Andrews with the simplest of tap-ins after a mazy crossfield run.

The second half was almost all Pershore with Chris Graham in the home goal only touching the ball twice - once with an audacious stop and sidefoot clear.

For the third time this season, the forwards, despite several good efforts, found an opposition goalkeeper in good form which, combined with somewhat over zealous tackling by the visitors, contrived to keep them out.