CONFIDENT Pershore fell short in a 5-4 home defeat to leaders Redditch in Warwick Printing Men’s Hockey League West Midlands Division One.

Pershore pressed the ball after two consecutive wins and took the lead against their undefeated visitors.

Rob Smith found Tony Handley at the back post to score and then the Vale side won a short corner five minutes later for Ed Deacon to make it 2-0.

With Pershore’s Russell Burford spending 10 minutes on the sidelines nursing an injury, Redditch made the most of an error to pull a goal back.

Two short corners towards the end of the half enabled Redditch to take a 3-2 lead into the second period.

They then netted twice within the first 10 minutes and were only denied more by Julian Heath’s crucial tackles and Tom Metson’s fine saves.

Redditch seemed to tire and Pershore created decent chances before pulling a goal back with 10 minutes left through Deacon from a short corner.

Just three minutes later, Handley got his second with a screamer but Redditch regained their composure to hold on for the win.

Mid-table Pershore visit Stafford, who have only lost once in the league this season, on Saturday.

Jack Wood scored four goals as Evesham upset visitors Oswestry 5-1 in the same division.

Ed Betteridge was also on target for the fourth-from-bottom Vale side.

Bromsgrove lost 5-4 at Kings Heath Pickwick in the West Midlands Premier Division, with Elliot Bennett, George Bolton, Tom Fyles and Mark Robinson on target.

The seconds beat Evesham 3-1 in West Midlands Two.

Meanwhile, Worcester women contested their second consecutive goalless draw in Midlands Division Two.

After holding high-flying Leek, they then played out a stalemate with fellow strugglers Tamworth.

Second-from-bottom Worcester are still two points off Tamworth going into Saturday’s visit to fourth-placed Solihull Blossomfield.

Worcester seconds remain bottom of the Feeder West division after going down 3-0 at Cannock thirds.