PERSHORE Town will look to produce an FA Vase upset on Saturday, buoyed by their best win of the season so far and the arrival of a new striker.
Town head to Shropshire side Whitchurch Alport, who are unbeaten in North West Counties League Division One, on the back of Saturday’s excellent 3-2 win at Leicester Road in Midland League Division One.
Boss Quentin Townsend has further added to the feel-good factor by signing young Worcester City striker Callum Devlin and he will be available to face Whitchurch in the first qualifying round tie.
“He’s only 17 but Callum is a great prospect,” said the manager. “He’s not far behind Aaron Brett, who is already in the City first team, but he needs game time. He’s a big targetman and also quick.”
There is further good news with top scorer Jamie Clarke indicating his move to the USA has been delayed for a few weeks, though he is suspended this weekend.
The only disappointment for Pershore is that long-serving midfielder Dane Aldington could face a lengthy lay-off after hurting his knee against Leicester Road. He is awaiting an MRI scan to assess the damage but Townsend admits he is fearing the worst.
Aldington’s injury marred what proved to be another memorable win at Leicester Road, one of the pre-season promotion favourites, with new recruit Pawel Tomczak, back at the club after a year’s absence, hitting the injury-time winner.
Matt Langham had given the hosts the lead after 14 minutes but Town skipper Shaun Griffiths levelled, bundling home the equaliser from a Daniel Priest free kick.
Nuno Gomes restored the Leicester lead before half time but Steve Webb steered a 20-yarder into the net to make it 2-2 and then Tomczak struck the winner in the final seconds.
“Leicester Road must hate playing us. We beat them twice last season against the odds and then on Saturday we twice came from behind to win,” said Townsend.
“We showed great character. We had our backs to the wall but we kept battling, working for each other and that was something we didn’t do enough last year. Conceding just before half time could’ve knocked the wind out of our sails but we stuck to our task.”
Whitchurch – second in their league with five wins and two draws – will provide another tough test, but Pershore’s squad have another incentive at Yockings Park in a tie that will be played to a finish. Win or lose, they have planned a stop-over in Chester.
