PERSHORE Town conceded a last-minute goal to lose 3-2 to Atherstone Town at the Winstanley and Co King George V Stadium.

Following the recent poor weather, the pitch was heavy but hard work by the groundstaff enabled the St Mary's Hospice Midland Combination Premier Division game to go ahead.

Pershore were slow starting and found themselves two goals down inside 20 minutes.

Between those goals, Mark Owen hit the post for the hosts when put through by Steve Webb.

The second-half saw a significant improvement from Pershore with goals after 55 minutes through Dane Aldington and the equaliser on 73 minutes from Mark Hands, who flicked in a header from Zach Blood's free-kick.

Both teams had chances as they chased a winner but, not for the first time this season, Pershore conceded late on, this time when a long clearance from Atherstone's keeper allowed Lee Smith to place the ball under the advancing Matt Oliver to win the game.

Pershore now have two entertaining home games with Bromsgrove Sporting on Saturday and Littleton on Saturday, February 1, which was a casualty of the weather on Boxing Day.