West Midland Regional League

Premier Division

Saturday 23rd February 2019

Pershore Town 2-1 Tividale

The Pears are no Pushover’s

Once again Tividale came up against a side that proved that if you do not get on top early and literally put the game to bed they will grow in confidence and become a side that will not only be difficult to beat but also a threat.

At the beginning of the season Tividale were despatching the sides at the wrong end of the table very convincingly. This is not the case at the moment and Tividale are having to grind out results. But in the end it’s the points that matter and we are still collecting them.

With Dan Smith available this week Manager Dave King brought him back to partner Demetri Brown in attack. This meant Darragh Bustin dropping back to his regular left wing back position replacing Jamal Fuller. In an out and out attacking formation he also brought in Bradley Welding at right wing back.

Tividale actually had the ball in the Pershore net after just 6 minutes. When Lee Smith headed a Welding cross goal wards but Matt Hunt put it over the line with his hand. A minute later and Pershore went close when Jonathon King’s pile driver from literally nowhere was turned around the post by Tividale keeper Ryan Cheshire. Tividale went close again on 10 minutes when a Welding free kick was nodded down by Hunt and Ben Birch’s half volley was tipped over the bar by Pershore keeper Toby Wilcox.

Wilcox had no chance with Tividale’s next effort on goal though. On 15 minutes Dan Smith was brought down by Curtis Townley about 25 yards out and dead in the centre of the posts. Bustin stepped up and his dipping free kick cleared the wall and found the bottom left hand corner of Wilcox’s net.

On 22 minutes Pershore forward Sam Clarke’s quick feet helped him beat a couple of Tividale defenders and found himself with a shooting chance but he dragged his shot wide. After a couple of Pershore free kicks that did not trouble Cheshire, Tividale doubled their lead on 35 minutes. Dan Smith’s neat chip found Bustin in the penalty box and he calmly hooked the ball past Wilcox.

Brown had a couple of great chance to add to Tividale score before half time. Both times he was put through by Curtis Cocking but his first shot was deflected over the bar and although his second shot beat Wilcox, Townley was there to clear the danger.

In the end it was Pershore who had the last chance of the half when after a neat passing move Ryan Pugh could not keep his shot down.

Half Time:- Pershore Town 0-2 Tividale

On 48 minutes Tividale again failed to extend their lead. With the ball bouncing around Pershore’s area like a pinball. Tividale couldn’t find the decisive touch and Pershore cleared. Brown was again through on goal after a Pershore mistake but this time he’s first touch let him down and the ball ran away from him.

Tividale was also finding Pershore, Townley’s long throw a threat and on the hour one of those into the Tividale box ended with a Clarke shot blocked by Welding. On 80 minutes a Cocking cross into the Pershore area was well won by Alex Cameron out jumping his marker but his header could not beat Wilcox.

With the game deep into injury time Pershore got on the score sheet from a corner the ball fell nicely for Dane Adlington to stab the ball home.

Full Time:- Pershore Town 2-1 Tividale

Tividale Supporters Man of the Match – Darragh Bustin

Tividale:-1. Ryan Cheshire, 2. Bradley Welding, 3. Darragh Bustin, 4. Ben Birch, 5. Dan Bryson. 6. Matt Hunt (14. Karl Gardner 75), 7. Lee Smith, 8. Liam Wilkinson (12. Jamal Fuller 82), 9. Dan Smith (15. Alex Cameron 73), 10. Demetri Brown, 11. Curtis Cocking.

Unused Substitutes:-16. Reece Shilvock, 17. Tom Hurdman.