Pershore Town 1 Brocton 2

When Brocton took an early lead on 12 minutes with a strong wind at their backs, it came after good pressure and seemed set to put the visitors in charge of this match. Richard Miller had been forced wide when in the box, but managed to turn and hit a low cross which just beat both Gary Fife and Lee Scott, to run out. But moments later Miller went one better as he found Fife a little deeper and Fife’s shot across the keeper was forced in at the far post by Lee Scott, collecting a whack from the post for his trouble.

Despite more pressure from Brocton, Pershore were not without their own chances and an overlap on the left forced Andy Chandler out to try to shepherd his man wide of the box. Although he could not prevent a low cross, he had held up play long enough for Andy Brookes to get back and see the ball to safety. Lee Scott epitomised the spirit shown by the visitors when he chased among the defenders and forced a mistake and then Richard Miller followed suit, chasing what looked like a lost cause into the right corner flag. Somehow he put in a great cross and Gary Fife met it at the near post but could only guide it just wide.

Fife then had two more chances as the half drew to a close. With the first, he was unaware of a great overlapping run by Lee Scott behind his line of sight and elected to shoot and the second again ended in a powerful shot on target, but on both occasions the home keeper was well positioned.

With only one goal to show for an excellent first half and the wind to contend with in the second period, the visitors could be forgiven some nerves but, whilst Pershore did press further up the field, Brocton looked comfortable.

A free kick on the edge of the area soon put paid to that though as Ollie holder drove past a helpless Mike Shelper; the ball still rising as it hit the top of the net inside the goal. That was some 25 minutes into a so far evenly contested second period, but it lifted the home side and for ten minutes, they looked capable of pinching a victory.

Brocton then twice got supply to substitute Jon Hodnett beyond the Pershore back line and with pace to spare and full of confidence he began to put Brocton back on top.

But it was an unfortunate keeping error which finally gave Brocton back their lead. A clearance had been knocked forward into the centre of Pershore’s penalty area and whilst Gary Fife gave chase, the keeper looked firm favourite. But whether an earlier juggle to deny Hodnett was still on his mind or whether he simply lost concentration, he let the ball slip beneath his body and Fife, almost apologetically accepted the gift.

Pershore then very nearly had the final say as a wicked deflection wrong footed Mike Shelper, who could only look helplessly on as the ball drifted towards his far post, but it went wide and with it went Pershore’s last chance.