Pershore Town 2 Shortwood 0 – UHL Hellenic League
By Jim Cunneen
A depleted Shortwood United more than matched league leaders Pershore Town in a 2-0 defeat.
Manager Ian Soule can only wonder what might have happened if he had anything like a full squad to choose from, but can take heart from the performance of the squad he did manage to field.
Alex Freeman, in the Wood goal, had a magnificent game with outstanding saves but that does not tell the whole story as Wood created several chances and had one perfectly good goal ruled out for a non-existent foul.
Pershore are top for a very good reason and they certainly were quick out of the traps scoring after only 52 seconds. A cross caused havoc before being cleared for a throw in and although Wood cleared the throw it only went to Jordan Jones who rifled the ball home from the edge of the area.
Pershore looked dangerous and Jones sent a free header wide. Wood came back and applied pressure and forced corners before Freeman produced an astonishing save to somehow claw away a header from Murphy that appeared to be behind him.
Wilton and Wright had shots deflected behind and Tryner appeared to be stamped on while on the floor but no action was taken much to Wood’s consternation.
In added time before the break, Pershore scored their crucial second goal, a cross to the far post was headed back and Murphy headed home.
Wood were bright in the second half. Kieran Marks had a shot saved by keeper Cox’s legs and Wright was inches wide with another effort and then shot straight at Cox from a decent position.
Wood thought they had scored after 57 minutes when Wright expertly turned a defender, who slipped over, and fired home past Cox only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul – an incredibly harsh decision. Freeman then saved well from a Steele header and then almost topped his first half save when he somehow kept out a shot from Clarke. Wood continued to press forward when they could and Colliver and Wright almost found their way through before the end.
Shortwood: Freeman, Marks N, Marks K (Barrett 69), Peyton L (Colliver 74), Tryner, Tunnicliff (Davis J 56), Eakers (Peyton A), Tosdevine (Odia Coly 61), Wright, Wilton, Minnican
Star Player – Alex Freeman
