Highgate Utd 1, Pershore Town 0

THIS was the ultimate embarrassment for a Pershore side on the crest of a slump!

Without a win for four matches, Colin Shepherd's side visited the Premier Division's bottom club and had high hopes of improving their wretched record since the turn of the year.

However, their plight worsened as Highgate grabbed the only goal after 35 minutes and, just to make matters worse, experienced midfielder Simon Brain received a red card for dissent.

Town have scored just two goals in their last five outings but they had the chances to improve on that dismal statistic in the opening period.

Ian Stewart's pass set up Jon Gregory but he shot wide, while a 19th minute effort from Paul Jones was blocked. Six minutes later, Colin Fulloway fired wildly over the top, while Jones miskicked after Gregory's header had fallen kindly for the top scorer.

Gareth Davis was the man to break the deadlock when his 35-yard dead-ball strike whipped through a packed Town rearguard into the net.

Pershore created little after the break although Stewart was unlucky to see a 52nd minute drive narrowly off target and Gregory's last-gasp header from a Dean Emerson cross saw keeper Chris Hunt produce a point-blank save.

There was better news from King George's, where goals from Gary Crewe, Chris Atkinson and Tony McLean helped the second string to a 3-2 win over Bustleholme after they had trailed 2-0 at half time.