Worcester & regional football round-up - Saturday August 24

All of the goals came in the second half at Queen Street with Kev Nickle’s 51st-minute penalty for the hosts soon wiped out by goals from George Corbett, Aaron Drake and in-form hotshot Roland Krol.

The West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division victory was the perfect present for manager Karl Gormley on his 40th birthday. 

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Pershore Town lost a tight encounter 1-0 at Wolverhampton Casuals.

Town were undone in the first half when Reece Mason’s good work down the left was rounded off by Kieran Cook’s finish during the dying embers of the first half.

Pershore pushed for a leveller in the second half with Shaun Griffiths going as close as anyone with 20 minutes to go, forcing a strong stop from keeper Brad Clarkson.

Two goals in the opening three minutes put Bromsgrove Sporting in the driving seat against Leicester Road – but there would still be a bumpy finish in the FA Cup preliminary round.

The Rouslers play three levels above their rivals and flew out of the traps with Shaquille McDonald finishing with aplomb from Nathan Hayward’s threaded pass inside 60 seconds.

Kyle Perry then smacked the crossbar moments later with Charlie Dowd following up to tuck in number two for the hosts.

Richard Gregory also whacked the woodwork midway through the second half before substitute Matt Langham’s penalty for Leicester Road set the cat amongst the pigeons with 19 minutes to go.

Langham had a corking volley ruled out for offside before Bromsgrove regained their composure, creating more chances late on and hitting the underside of the bar through Perry in a 2-1 victory.

The win saw Sporting progress to the first qualifying round and scoop £2,890 in prize money.

Stourport Swifts went within a hair’s breadth of a last-gasp winner but will do it all again after a 0-0 draw with Boldmere St Michaels.

Swifts survived a penalty that the visitors missed just past the hour mark.

And Quentin Townsend's men almost made their league rivals pay when substitute Elliott Lees planted wide a minute past the 90.

Evesham United's FA Cup campaign kicks off with a preliminary round tie against Spartan South Midlands League outfit Harefield United on Sunday (2pm). 

Harefield got promoted to the level below Evesham's last season, dropping just four points en route to the title.

A defensive error and missed penalty meant Hereford had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Brackley Town in National North.

Rowan Liburd had headed the Bulls ahead in the first half after Bradley Ash's free-kick hit the bar.

A defensive mix-up between Raheem Hanley and Josh Gowling released Matt Lowe to find the unmarked James Armison who made no mistake.

Tom Owen-Evans then had the chance to seal the points for Hereford late on but sent his penalty over.

Owen-Evans did redeem himself with a goal-line clearance to deny Lee Ndlovu late on, though.

Ash Chambers missed an open goal late in the day as Kidderminster Harriers lost 1-0 at home to Chester. Matty Hughes struck to decide matters at Aggborough.

Redditch United blew an early lead but then fought back from two down to beat Lowestoft Town 5-3 in Southern League Premier Division Central.

Jak Hickman opened the scoring but ex-Worcester City captain Jordan Stoddart put into his own net to level.

Andrew Fisk gave Lowestoft a half-time lead with Jake Reed making it three goals inside nine minutes either side of the break.

Substitute Connor Deards halved the deficit with Solihull Moors loanee Dan Sweeney levelling from the penalty spot.

Sweeney’s confident dribble and shot fired the Reds ahead but the same man blew his chance of a hat-trick when sending a second penalty over the bar following a foul on Rhys Hilton.

Lowestoft had Shaun Bammant sent off and Deards made the points safe five minutes into added time.

Missed first-half chance proved costly as Alvechurch lost 3-0 at Hednesford Town.