PERSHORE Hockey Club's men returned to winning ways with a 4-2 success at Stafford in West Midlands One.

They absorbed plenty of early pressure from the young hosts with the only chances coming from penalty corners.

Rob Curly saved well but 10 minutes before half-time a well-worked Stafford routine found the net.

Pershore reacted quickly as Richard Stocks beat four players and was taken out by the keeper with Stuart Bearcroft converting the resulting penalty flick.

The visitors started the second half quickly and Stocks ran forward before setting up Gareth Rushton at the back post to make it 2-1.

Stafford won a string of penalty corners but Curly kept them out until a deflection off a Pershore stick wrong-footed the keeper.

Pershore went back ahead from a penalty corner won by Tony Handley and Stocks again assisted the goal with Jon Sprague scoring.

The defence held Stafford off and Graham Handley broke away to see his pass to Rushton deflected in by an opponent for the final goal.

The firsts host Khalsa Leamington thirds on Saturday.

Pershore seconds crashed 9-0 at home to Kingswinford in South West Four after a season-opening 13-goal triumph.

They were four down after around 15 minutes and trailed 6-0 at the break.

Keeper Tom Metson made several saves and Lee Wickersham went close to a consolation goal.