THERE was a Tuesday tonic for Pershore Town after Saturday's shambles against Coventry Sphinx.

Colin Shepherd's side hit back quickly from a 3-1 weekend reverse to defeat Southam United by the same score in midweek and end a run of three Midland Combination matches without a win.

Town made a promising start with Paul Jones and Jon Gregory coming close in the opening minutes but the visitors had a let off when Webb headed over when it seemed easier to score.

Fumbles by both goalkeepers produced scrambles at both ends. Colin Fulloway rescued Pershore after Nathan Turner's clanger but Southam weren't so lucky when Phil Haines capitalised on a goalkeeping error to give Town the lead.

Pershore made a positive start to the second half and it took them just two minutes to increase their lead when Jones deflected a Gregory drive into the net.

Nathan Jones then showed his paces to leave two defenders trailing before calmly slotting the ball past the keeper to make it 3-0.

Deam Emerson conceded a penalty ten minutes from time but Green hit the bar before Southam grabbed a consolation in the 88th minute.

Sphinx were level on points with Saturday's hosts and the parity was conveyed on to the pitch as half-time arrived with nothing to separate the two sides.

Neither goalkeeper was severely tested in an evenly contested opening 45 minutes although Coventry's Downing on six minutes and Nathan Owen for the hosts five minutes later spurned the best openings.

It took Sphinx just four minutes to break the deadlock. Pershore goalkeeper Turner denied Paul Cummins but the striker was quickest to react to the loose ball and saw the ball hit a post and sneak over the line.

It took Pershore just nine minutes to draw level when Jon Gregory slotted the ball confidently past Holland.

An error by Turner then handed the visitors a second when he dropped a cross and the ball fell kindly for Downing to force the all across the line.

The lead was doubled four minutes later when lacklustre defending allowed Martin the space to place the ball wide of Turner and into the far corner to make it 3-1.

Ian Stewart missed a glorious chance to set up a rousing finale when he headed over from six yards as three more points slipped from Pershore's grasp.