Alveston 1, Pershore Town 1

TUESDAY night's tussle between two sides at the wrong end of the Midland Combination Premier Division produced a scrappy encounter that lived up to its billing, writes Mervyn Collins.

Chances were at a premium in perfect conditions - a flat surface on a breathless evening - but despite a lot of huff and puff neither side possessed the ability to severely test either custodian.

Pershore suffered a double blow before kick-off with the absence of hospitalised manager Dave Connell and the sudden resignation of match secretary, Mike Pugh.

However, with Lee Tustin a constant menace and latest signing Neil Haines settling in well at full back, it was Town who looked the most likely to break the deadlock.

However, Paul Court's second minute shot was easily saved but home keeper Mike Rose was happy to deflect Tustin's 34th minute shot into the side netting.

Rose dealt more comfortably with a Jon Gregory header while, at the opposite end, Max Baillie's two efforts were easily dealt with.

It was a surprise then when Alveston created the night's clearest opening a minute after the break but Neil Barrett completely fluffed a free header from Tyrone Fagan's centre.

Nine minutes later, Court wasn't as wasteful at the back post after Richard Pincher had shown rare skills on the right flank.

Barrett and Fagan, though, combined again 16 minutes from time with the latter producing a fine finish to level matters.

Winger Emerson Mitchell was a constant threat for the hosts and he was denied a late winner by Neil Turner's stop.

From the corner, Barrett's looping volley landed on top of the bar but a draw was a fair result on a night when, on this evidence, both sides will be well pleased to if they can keep out of the relegation muddle.

Richard Congrave, unavailable in midweek, notched his fourth goal in three matches as Pershore came from behind three times to defeat Bolehall last Saturday.

Congrave's winner came seven minutes from time and followed fellow striker Lee Tustin's first goal for the club after 68 minutes.

That made it 3-3 after Swifts had taken the lead for a third time 12 minutes after the break.

Two defensive mistakes led to Bolehall's first half brace but Congrave's fine finish and a volley from Jon Gregory ensured interval parity. Congrave had a goal wiped out for a foul five minutes before the break but he had the final say as Town earned a welcome win.

After two away trips, Pershore are back at King George's on Saturday when Shirley Town are the visitors.

Alveston, meanwhile, will he hoping to put last Saturday's Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup loss behind them when they visit Bolehall this weekend.