Shortwood 0 Pershore 4
UHL Hellenic League
Shortwood were comprehensively beaten by Pershore at Meadowbank on Saturday, writes Jim Cunneen.
Whilst once again they were on the end of two very poor decisions that cost them the 3rd and 4th goals the simple fact is that Pershore were by far the better side and could easily have been out of sight before those goals were scored.
It is a harsh fact that on this occasion Wood seemed devoid of ideas and their passing radar was off. It is to be hoped that when they come back in the new year they will come back refreshed.
Pershore took the lead after only 8 minutes. Pershore worked a good move through midfield but Baldwin’s miss hit shot fell perfectly for Clarke who slammed the ball home. Wood were at sixes and sevens. Finlay Byrnes cleared an effort off the line and from the resultant corner Willis sent a free header the wrong side of the post. Wood had a chance to level after 15 minutes keeper Hart fumbled a through ball and the usually predatory Luke Soule was unable to turn the ball home. Wood lost Tunnicliff after 18 minutes but in Nowell they had a more than useful replacement. Nutt missed another free header and Wood were generally under the cosh for much of the opening period. Just before the break Fogg saw a header from a Bowles free kick drift wide of the far post.
It only took Pershore 6 minutes of the second half to double the score Aiden Clark heading home a cross from Fowler. Just after the hour Krol flattened Freeman as he came for a cross and with both players on the floor, Willis scored at the second attempt. Wood’s protests were long and justified but the goal was allowed to stand.
In a rare moment of fluidity Soule’s pass to Lewis was just too far in front of his co-striker and when Pershore broke Cavens through ball to Brett, who appeared to be a long way offside, allowed the Pershore man time to run and cross low to Krol who had a simple finish and complete Wood’s miserable afternoon.
In the dying seconds, Peyton crossed low but the ball skipped through without touch and denied Wood a consolation.
Shortwood: Freeman, Peyton, Barrett, Byrnes, Tunnicliff (Nowell 18), Tryner, Fogg (Lewis 65), Gibbs, Soule, Bowles, Harper – Emerson (Hobbs 61)
