Ludlow 1, Pershore 2.

GRAHAM Handley was on the scoresheet despite suffering a foot injury as his side grabbed an away win at Ludlow in the West Midlands League Division Two.

Pershore started with 10 men and Ludlow took control of the game early on, and gained the lead with a scrappy goal within a minute of the missing player stepping on the pitch.

With Pershore thinking the worst of the day was behind them, Handley, making only his second first-team start of the season, picked up a foot injury limiting him to only the minimum of movement.

Undeterred, Pershore pressed forward with captain Jamie Hughes, Liam Ridings and Richard Drew all having too much quality on the ball for the opposing team.

It was the latter that created a half- chance for the injured Handley to level the scores with a reflex shot nestling in the bottom of the goal.

Pershore’s second goal resulted from a quick break as Drew drawing most of the Ludlow defence before providing a pinpoint pass to find Gareth Rushton.

He picked out Handley, whose first attempt was saved, but he still found enough composure to react quickest and reverse-stick the ball under an excellent goalkeeper. This was to be Handley’s last action meaningful the game as the foot injury became to much to bear and Pershore were once again forced down to 10 players.

The second-half was a heart-stopping affair, however, with Ludlow having all of the ball, Pershore defended well.

Karl Lawson, making his first-team league debut, performed well, as did Mike Handley who once again rolled back the years at sweeper. Had it not been for Pershore goalkeeper John Sharratt, the visitors would still have lost this game, making a number of fine saves to mop up where his team had been beaten.

With five minutes remaining, a hobbling Handley re-introduced himself to the action. The parity in numbers allowed Pershore to hold the ball much more resolutely in the closing moments to see the second-half out without conceding a goal.

Pershore entertain Oswestry at Prince Henry’s School on Saturday.

Pershore’s second string managed to scrape a 3-3 draw at home to Market Drayton.

Kingswinford put Pershore thirds to the sword, winning 11-0.

Pershore Ladies cruised to a 6-1 home win over Droitwich in their latest league clash.