AIDAN Clark scored twice as Pershore Town beat Racing Club Warwick 2-0 in the FA Vase to secure their spot in the first round proper of the competition.

Clark's header in the first-half gave The Plums a 1-0 lead in a scrappy half that saw both sides squander chances, with Pershore keeper Eddie Cox making a number of good saves.

The away side were forced back after the break and had to defend resolutely to keep the score at 1-0 before Clark's delightful chip from 35 yards in stoppage time sealed the visitors' progression.

Back-to-back league defeats at the start of September had put the breaks on their impressive start to the 2023/24 season for Pershore, but a big win in the cup against Hereford Pegasus and a narrow league win at Westfields had put Lewis Marston's side back on track ahead of their trip to Warwick.

It was a difficult opening 45 minutes. Cox had to be alert on a number of occasions to keep his side in the game but despite being below their best, Clark's header in the 28th minute meant they took a lead into the break. 

It was a backs against the against-the-wall type afternoon at times for The Plums, especially in the second half as they failed to hit the heights they have set in recent seasons. 

But with their narrow 1-0 lead under threat heading into added time, striker Clark managed to pinch the ball off the last man, before darting forward and chipping the ball over the keeper, who was way out of his goal, to seal the win.

As a result, Marston's men will face Shirebrook Town at home in the first round of the Vase next month.