PERSHORE signed off for the festive break with a 5-3 home win over Bournville seconds in Midland Men’s Hockey League West Midlands One.

But a slow start allowed Bournville, without a win at the bottom of the table, to take a fifth-minute lead with a well-revised routine after winning a string of short corners.

Fifth-placed Pershore hit back with Tony Handley quickly levelling but Bournville scored from another short corner near the end of the first period.

But the hosts bossed the second half with Jon Sprague levelling and Stuart Bearcroft putting the Vale side ahead for the first time after a mazy run through the defence.

Another fine forward burst for Bearcroft resulted in Graham Handley slotting home the fourth goal but the player with the assist injured himself in the process.

Ten-man Pershore still stretched their lead when Rich Stocks provided Tony Handley with his second goal before Bournville completed the scoring from another short corner.

Pershore’s high-flying seconds won a close battle 2-1 at Edgbaston sevenths in South West Four.

The visitors’ keeper Lee Wickersham had a busy time and saved well with Edgbaston also squandering a golden opportunity.

Pershore switched the pacy Jamie Hughes to the right which paid dividends just before the break when he followed up on his own angled shot to slot home from close range.

Hughes was instrumental again early in the second half when Toby Whiting deflected his shot in past the keeper.

Injuries left Pershore with barely half the outfield players fit to continue and Edgbaston halved the deficit from a short corner.

But Gary Stevenson, Mark Passmore and John Senior particularly defended well as Pershore held on for victory.

Meanwhile, Evesham and Badsey go into the festive break fifth in Verde Recreo Men's Hockey League The Marches Division One after a 1-1 draw at Abergavenny.

In their longest trip of the season, an end-to-end opening saw the visitors go ahead midway through the first half.

They were awarded a short corner and Marcus Humpston took full advantage.

Despite pressure from the Welsh hosts Evesham and Badsey led 1-0 at the break.

But the Vale side's defence was tested from the start of the second half and eventually were breached to allow Abergavenny an equaliser which completed the scoring.

Evesham and Badsey have won six, lost three and drawn one in the first half of the winter campaign.

The third-from-bottom A team lost 1-0 at home to Ross-on-Wye A in The Marches Division Two.