Hockey
Zaman stars as Yardley hold Pershore

Yardley 2 Pershore 2

MRHA West Midlands Two

TWO Noor Zaman goals gave Yardley a deserved share of the spoils against a Pershore outfit who won the first meeting between the sides earlier in the season 13-0.

Pershore started brightly and had the majority of early possession but Yardley defended solidly and another heavy beating never looked likely.

Yardley then surprised Pershore by taking the lead with their first attack when Zaman followed up a fiercely struck James Livingstone short corner to convert in a goalmouth scramble.

Both sides had chances in a well contested first half but it was Pershore who struck next, drawing level on the stroke of half time when Yardley were caught out by a swift break.

The hosts continued to keep pace with Pershore in the second half with captain Rob McGuigan impressing again at the back.

As the game progressed the more open and exciting it became. Yardley began to threaten more as the minutes ticked by and Zaman put them ahead for a second time when he dribbled past two defenders and beat the keeper.

Further chances were missed by both sides as the game neared its end but it was Pershore who struck next when a goalmouth scramble followed a short corner.

Zaman almost completed a dream afternoon for himself and Yardley in the dying stages but his effort came back off the inside of the post as both sides had to settle for a point.

Yardley face their longest trip of the season on Saturday when they face their longest trip of the season with a trip to Oswestry.