Pershore Town 3,

Handsworth Continental Star 4

PERSHORE Town suffered their first defeat in their last six Midland Combination Premier Division outings after a seven-goal nail-biter.

Visitors Star were one ahead after only three minutes. Justin Rowe took advantage of a flat footed defence to lob the ball into goal from close-range.

Town replied when a clever back heel pass by James Preece put Paul Court clear, his shot was saved by keeper Ovis Hutchinson. Then followed another Town attack, Dean Emerson played the ball up the line for Court to cross to Jon Gregory, his shot was straight at the keeper.

In the 23rd minute central defender Carl Downing ran through the Star midfield to lay on a pass for James, his drive flew over the crossbar.

Two minutes into the second half a Court cross fell for Simon Brain, his drive hit a defender to allow the keeper to make a simple pick-up, then a Glenn Burrow deep cross was headed inches over by Gregory.

In the 55th minute an Emerson drive hit the front of the Star crossbar and at the other end Terry Herbert saw his shot hit an upright.

Town's back four were pushing well up field in support to try for the equaliser, but were caught out in the 59th minute. Justin Rowe broke past the defence to run for goal and pick his spot past keeper Adrian Hipkins.

Four minutes later Brain's corner kick was met at the near post for Colin Fulloway to head home.

The Town were still playing their risky off-side tactic and were again mugged when Donavan Rowe ran nearly the Town half of the pitch, dribbled the ball past keeper Hipkins and walked the ball into goal in the 84th minute.

Three minutes later in a Town attack Gregory's far post cross was fired into goal by Court.

The so called Town off-side trap was beaten again in the 89th minute when Rowe ran on to score Star's fourth.

Only 30 seconds later Court headed home Town's third. In injury-time Gregory hit wide from close-range and James saw his header saved on the line by Hutchinson.