Pershore travelled to Lydney looking to bounce back after two frustrating home games against Cinderford and Fairford, where strong performances brought just a single point. Despite sitting below the Plums in the table, Lydney entered the fixture in fine form, fresh from an impressive 2–0 win over promotion contenders Corsham Town.

Pershore started brightly and fashioned the first real opening when excellent work down the left from Yuri Quintas allowed him to square to Reece Day, whose low effort was gathered by the home goalkeeper. Lydney responded quickly, as O’Rian Reid sprung the offside trap and rounded Joe Cunneen, only for Elliott Sumnall to recover superbly and pressure the striker into shooting wide of an open goal.

Macca King stung the palms of the Lydney keeper from range, before Pershore were forced into some defending of their own following a long throw that resulted in a wild home effort clearing the stand.

The game’s main flashpoint arrived on 21 minutes. Jack Neal was clearly taken out after playing the ball forward, but with the foul missed, the loose ball was headed back into play, leaving Neal on the ground and Reid through on goal. As Reid approached the box, covering defender Chris Gregan was penalised for a challenge just outside the area. Lydney appealed for a red, Pershore for the original foul — the referee issued a yellow before the resulting free-kick was dispatched into the net to give the hosts the lead.

Lydney almost doubled their advantage minutes later when a square ball found Declan Morley-Lyne, whose powerful strike rattled the upright. At the other end, Cal Harper beat his man well down the right but saw his cross claimed confidently.

Pershore continued to threaten, with Day’s deflected shot firing narrowly wide and Harper flashing a cross-shot across goal that Prince Henry was inches away from converting. Lydney, however, hit the crossbar just before the break, ensuring the hosts led at half-time.

Pershore emerged strongly for the second half, and within minutes Harper forced a superb save with a fierce strike from the edge of the area. On the hour mark, King saw his drive blocked before George Hunt chested down the rebound and unleashed a stunning 25-yard effort that cannoned off the underside of the bar and somehow stayed out.

The match remained open and end-to-end, with Lydney striking the post again before Henry tested the keeper at the other. But despite Pershore’s pressure, it was the hosts who found the crucial second goal. Reid picked out Morley-Lyne, who drove past Hunt before firing in off the post to double the advantage.

Substitute Cal Clayton fired over from a promising position, Harper could not adjust quickly enough to turn home a Henry cross, and Pershore saw a late scramble hacked clear as their search for a clinical finishing touch continued.

Despite plenty of chances and positive spells of play, the Plums drew another blank in front of goal and suffered defeat on the road — a third straight league match without scoring, and a frustrating afternoon given the opportunities created.

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