Hockey
Pershore show their fighting qualities

Yardley 2 Pershore 2

West Midlands Division Two

A RESHUFFLED Pershore side twice battled back from a goal down to earn a share of the spoils at lowly Yardley on Saturday.

The visitors were forced into four changes from the previous match and this time were relying on the guile rather than the pace of Rushton and Ridsdale up front.

The hosts broke the deadlock but Ridsdale latched on to a long ball clearance and, after beating two players, produced a pinpoint cross to find the ever-willing Rushton in the Yardley D who calmly lifted the ball over the keeper to level before the break.

In the second half the tireless running of Julian Heath and Jamie Hughes in the middle of the park put Pershore on top and Ridsdale was denied by a fine save by the home keeper, but it was Yardley who regained the lead on the counter-attack.

Galvanised once more, Pershore pushed forward and were rewarded with a short corner which, following a well saved shot from Ridsdale, saw Rushton slot the ball home to make it 2-2.

The match became stretched in the final ten minutes as both teams chased maximum points and there was drama at both ends as first Yardley thought they had bagged a winner, only for keeper Metson to make a superb save on his own goalline.

Moments later Pershore suffered the same agonising fate when Hindle’s effort was cleared off the line in another fine piece of goalkeeping.

Fourth placed Pershore play host to Newtown tomorrow, with the visitors arriving a place behind on goal difference only.

2NDS GIVE LEADERS A FRIGHT

PERSHORE 2NDS gave runaway leaders Bloxwich a real run for their money before slipping to a 2-1 home loss in West Midlands Division Two.

Pershore keeper John Sharratt kept his side in the hunt with some fine saves and then, totally against the run of play, Tom Quantrell’s fine run set up Ali Sanderson to put Pershore ahead.

Despite some heroic defence, Bloxwich levelled from a short corner routine and bagged a fortuitous deflected winner in the second half.

Pershore had a chance to equalise late on when they had two short corners but shots by Sanderson and Mike Handley were well blocked by the Bloxwich defence.

Buoyant Pershore face another tricky match at third placed Market Drayton tomorrow.

3RDS KEEP BATTLING

TEN-MAN Pershore 3rds could not recover from an early 3-0 deficit at Market Drayton in West Midlands Division Two, but fought hard to keep the damage to a 5-2 loss.

Their numerical disadvantage ensured the hosts had command before the break despite stoic defence from Andy Gardiner, Phil Taylor, Pete Moreby and Richard Darling and fine goalkeeping from Steve Taylor.

However, Pershore gave as good as they got in the second half and Gavin Pugh and Tom Pilling set up Luke Dalley to unleash an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.

Pershore kept up the pressure and were awarded a number of short corners which eventually brought a second goal from Dalley.

However, as the visitors sought the most amazing of equalisers, the hosts scored two goals on the break.

Pershore visit Old Silhillians tomorrow.