PERSHORE Town are into the next round of the Smedley Crooke Cup thanks to a 6-0 thrashing of Earlswood Town.

Striker Jamie Clarke bagged himself a 17-minute first-half hat-trick in between goals from Jake Donnelly and Scott Hammond as Pershore scored five before the break.

Pershore took their foot off the gas in the second-half but Hammond managed a second four minutes from time to round off a clinical evening for The Plums.

It comes on the back of a battling 1-1 draw away at fellow play-off hopefuls Royal Wootton Bassett Town on Saturday in the Hellenic League Premier.

After a goalless first-half, the action all came in the final 30 minutes.

Bailey Gallagher saw red for the hosts in the 63rd minute but the 10 men broke the deadlock six minutes later when Jack Hobson Mcveigh fired home the opener.

It looked like being the winner but Pershore would take a point back to Worcestershire after what was a superb strike from Connor Mort.

The substitute came off the bench and smashed a rocket of a shot into the top corner from 30 yards to spark wild celebrations in the 87th minute of the game.

It means Pershore remain in the final play-off place in fifth in the Hellenic Premier, three points behind third-placed Bassett.

They have another tough away fixture this weekend away at Slimbridge.