Pic: Scorer of the opening goal Jamie Lucas (credit: Geoff Moore)

Pershore travelled to Cirencester, a side sitting just outside the playoff places. The hosts went into the game a point behind Worcester Raiders in fifth and are the league’s second-highest scorers, with top marksman and former Plum Harlie Price among their ranks.

The first chance of the game fell to Pershore when Reece Day found Jamie Lucas, who played wide to debutant Tino Shumba. He picked out the overlapping Tyrese Griffin, whose pull-back found Kyle Clayton, but the youngster could only fire his first-time effort straight at Ronnie Newbury in the Cirencester goal.

Five minutes later Griffin, Lucas and Shumba combined again down the left, but Shumba’s delivery into the box was comfortably claimed by Newbury.

The home side’s first opening came on 19 minutes when Jack Neal cleared off the chest of Nick Peare. Despite the assistant signalling a goal kick, the referee awarded a corner, from which Peare rose highest but headed over.

At the other end, a Leo Pinches corner was recycled, with Shumba returning the ball into the box and Chris Gregan heading back across goal, but no one could apply the finish.

Cirencester threatened when a deep cross found Theo Jeremy, whose header was safely gathered by Joe Cunneen, before Price turned a dangerous cross just wide moments later. Shortly before the break, a half-cleared ball was volleyed narrowly past the post as the hosts edged the first half without creating many clear-cut chances.

The second half began quietly, with Peare shooting wide from distance on the hour mark. Pershore responded when Lucas broke through on goal but could only fire straight at the advancing Newbury, winning a corner.

The deadlock was finally broken on 68 minutes when Pinches’ free kick was met by Lucas, who turned home to give the Plums a deserved lead.

Two minutes later, a heavy challenge by Jack Horrell prompted appeals for a red card from the visitors, while the hosts felt no foul was warranted. The referee settled on a yellow.

Cirencester pushed for an equaliser, with Peare testing Cunneen from inside the box before Price turned the rebound into the side netting.

Griffin bravely put his body on the line to win a free kick after a high challenge from Dias. Cunneen delivered deep into the hosts’ half, substitute Dan Hanson flicked on, and a miscued clearance fell to Shumba, who clinically fired home to seal the points.

In stoppage time — with the referee adding a lengthy 12 minutes — Kyle Clayton slipped Lucas through, but his effort flashed just wide. Despite late pressure and a series of corners from the hosts, Pershore remained resolute to see out the win.

The result completed Pershore’s first league double of the season, with clean sheets recorded in both fixtures.