Pershore fell to defeat on the road at Roman Glass St George, as the hosts strengthened their push at the top of the table while the Plums searched for vital points in their fight at the other end.

The visitors started brightly, with new signing Isaac Cooper’s cross-cum-shot comfortably gathered by the home keeper inside the opening exchanges. A minute later, a long-range strike was deflected wide for a corner as Pershore showed early intent.

Cooper then fired a free kick over the bar, while at the other end Roman Glass responded with a surging run through midfield that ended with a shot sailing over.

Elliott Gardner was heavily involved for the hosts, bundling Elliott Sumnall aside before forcing a good save from Joe Cunneen with a strike from the edge of the box.

Pershore’s best move of the half arrived on 25 minutes. Joe Clayton broke forward and fed Leo Pinches, who found Jamie Lucas. The striker beat his marker but could only find the side netting from a tight angle.

Roman Glass looked dangerous on the counter throughout the first period, but Cunneen and his defence stood firm to repel several promising attacks. At the other end, Lucas laid the ball into the path of Jack Griffiths Perry after meeting a Pinches cross, but with the goal at his mercy the winger fired over.

For all of Pershore’s resilience in the first half, the contest swung decisively in the opening minutes after the break.

Seven minutes into the second half, a through ball split the defence, allowing Gardner to spin beyond Jack Neal and Sumnall before calmly slotting past Cunneen. Two minutes later, a cross from the right was turned in at the back post to double the advantage.

With momentum firmly with the hosts, further defensive lapses offered Roman Glass additional openings. Gardner proved a constant threat and on 69 minutes effectively sealed the game, heading home at the back post after a short corner routine was eventually delivered into the box.

Pershore did respond. Cooper won possession on the hour and released Lucas, whose effort from the edge of the area drifted narrowly wide. Griffiths Perry was later denied by the keeper’s legs after good work from Tino Shumba, while a Shumba free kick was headed goalwards by Lucas but tipped over.

Cunneen also made amends for a misplaced pass with a sharp reaction save late on, but the damage had been done.

Roman Glass claimed the points with a clinical second-half display, while Pershore were left to reflect on a disciplined first-half effort undone by lapses immediately after the interval.