POLICE IN SECOND HALF WORKMANLIKE PERFORMANCE

West Mids staged a spirited second half fight back to earn a draw against old friends and rivals Pershore Town.

The first chance of the game fell to the Police when a Paul Shaw free kick found Gavin Smith who headed straight at the keeper.
For the visitors, on 16 minutes, Simon Judge struck a fierce drive from just outside the box and Police keeper Tony 'I've lost three stone' Workman saved at full stretch.

Workman was soon in action again saving a shot from Chris Allen and a point blank header from Joe Maidement at the expense of a corner. Form this corner the Police defence failed to clear and Judge pounced to fire home from close range.

On 39 minutes, Police thought they had equalised when, from a Darren Wilkinson corner, Lyndon Price's header seemed to have crossed the line before it was cleared, but it would not have counted as the referee had blown for an earlier infringement.

In the second half the West Mids had substitute Steve Hopcroft up front and his bustling style put the big Pershore central defenders under a lot of pressure. Police deservedly equalised on 75 minutes when Chris Martin took a free kick from the half way line and Lyndon Price found space and unmarked on the far post he popped up to head home.

Both sides then missed opportunities to clinch victory. For Pershore, Simon Brain squandered a chance from a sharp angle on 77 minutes and then Richard Adams burst clear for the Police but Pershore custodian Barry McLean saved at his feet.

Tony Workman was in action again four minutes from time with a superb reflex save from a John Gregory header.

A draw was a fair result between two well matched sides on the night.

Match Report by Tony 'Scoop' Pearson
West Midlands Police Football Club Press Officer