PERSHORE Town earned a tremendous ovation from a 180-strong home crowd after a pulsating FA Vase tie at North West Counties League front-runners Whitchurch Alport.

The first qualifying round game was finally settled 4-3 on penalties after the two sides drew 4-4.

With Scott Devlin prominent in midfield Town shocked their unbeaten hosts after just two minutes when Daniel Priest gave keeper Danny Read no chance with a fierce free-kick from the edge of the box.

After 13 minutes a huge clearance from keeper Chris Rich sent Priest clear on the left and he cut in to calmly lob the keeper to make it 2-0.

The home side began to come more into the game and on 26 minutes Dean Twigg pulled one back with a header from a cross.

Read stopped a Mikey Wright effort but after 38 minutes Luke Walley pulled Whitchurch level with a close-range effort.

The second period started badly for Town when just five minutes after the restart Nick Marley put the hosts ahead after a header rebounded down from the bar.

Just two minutes later there was a further setback when Town keeper Rich dropped a shot over his head to put Whitchurch 4-2 ahead.

But Pershore responded with a triple substitution that revitalised the side and after 62 minutes a Cam Mathewson cross enabled new signing Callum Devlin to slot home at the far post.

Town's efforts finally paid off seven minutes from the end when Mitch Butterworth crossed for Callum Devlin to fire home and take the game into extra-time.

The visitors' best extra-time chance came when Pav Tomczak surged through the defence but the opportunity was snuffed out.

Whitchurch had a player sent off for a bad tackle but Town were unable to capitalise and then were edged out on penalties.

Both keepers saved well as the first three spot-kicks were unsuccessful before Tomczak confidently converted the fourth.

David Wilson and Butterworth both scored for Town but as it went to sudden death they were finally beaten.