PERSHORE Town manager Lewis Marston bemoaned "the worst 45 minutes we have produced all season" which gave them "too much to do" as they were well beaten by Worcester City in the Marsh Challenge Cup second-round on Tuesday evening.

The Plums conceded three times in the opening 24 minutes of the game and they never really recovered, although goals from Sam Clark and Jamie Clarke did keep them in the game.

But in truth, it was a dominant performance by City and Pershore boss Marston admitted his side were second-best.

"We were under par in the first-half, we were miles off it and that was maybe the worst 45 minutes we have put in all season, so no complaints on the score, we were outclassed," said Marston.

"In the second-half we huffed and puffed but gave ourselves too much to do in the first-half.

"We start to give a good account of ourselves at the start of the second half and then you get the red card and penalty and that kind of shoots ourselves in the foot and we are back to where we were.

"One thing I will say, second-half, we have tried to put the game right but then big moments have killed us. The red card we can argue and I don't think it is a sending off, I think it's a yellow.

"The penalty, I have a great view, is not a penalty so big moments have killed us but as did that first-half so no complaints from me."

The Plums will have to respond at the weekend when they return to Hellenic League Premier action at home to Mangotsfield United. They remain in the picture for the play-offs and will now be able to put all their attentions into that now they are out of the cup competitions.