Stratford III 3, Pershore III 1

THIS was the club's first ever DTZ Third XI League match and several players glanced nervously at the opposition as they displayed admirable skills in the warm-up.

However, once the game started Pershore settled quickly and Whitehead audaciously fired them into the lead.

Stratford now put pressure on the Pershore midfield and defence but, with Andy Wright, Tom Handley and Ben Bales tackling like dervishes, and Iain Rushin and Stewart

Speake distributing the ball well, Pershore held out until just before half-time when a shot crept in by a post.

Pershore exerted great pressure for most of the second half and created numerous chances only for the frustrated defence to see them wasted by profligate shooting.