Turton own goal costs Saints

Oli Manoochehris free-kick led to Southams equaliser.

Pershore keeper Harry Ashton made the first save, coming off his line to deny Oli Manoochehri in the fifth minute.

It took a good saving tackle from Danny Wylde to stop Zak Blood from creating an opening for the visitors and Saints went close when Ben Tennant’s free-kick was headed back out to Robbie Stephens who curled his shot just past the far post.

Mark Owen set Blood off on a run down the left and the striker continued his run into the penalty area where he was well placed to meet the cross, but headed wide. Lewis Bridges then shot across the face of goal as Pershore continued to look threatening.

Stephens went off in the 20th minute to be replaced by Joe Howarth and then a ricochet from a Saints defender fell to Owen, who was denied by a good stop by Tom Cross.

Pershore took the lead in the 53rd minute when a neat build-up was finished off by Bridges who shot low past Cross.

Another good save from the Saints captain thwarted Nathan McLoughlan before Saints had a lucky break on the hour.

With the referee awarding an indirect free-kick just inside the Pershore half, Manoochehri sent the ball high and long towards the goal and, instead of leaving it, Ashton flapped and assisted the strike into the net.

Pershore immediately hit back and it took three top-class saves from Cross to deny them an equaliser. First, he tipped a Mark Hands free-kick over the bar, then denied Bridges, before saving from close range from Gareth Harmer.

The winner came in the 82nd minute when a cross from the right by Hands was steered into his own net by Turton.

Bridges should have had a second, but shot just over and then, in the third minute of added time, Manoochehri’s free-kick came back off the bar and was scrambled clear.

“We were disappointed with our performance against Stafford Town last time but took a step forward tonight” said acting manager Ian Ray.

“Although we have tried to keep the pressure off the young players, they are making a big step up from the reserves and it is proving tough.

“They deserved to get a point from the match for their efforts.”

Tomorrow, Saints visit Bolehall Swifts before travelling to the Vale Stadium to face Alvis Sporting on Wednesday.