Tuesday night saw City return to The Victoria Ground, Bromsgrove, their temporary home for four seasons, as they faced off against Hellenic League Division One side Pershore Town in the final of the Worcestershire Senior Cup.

Despite being the lowest-ranked side in the competition at Step 6, Pershore Town had battled their way through the competition, beating two Step 3 sides in Bromsgrove Sporting and Redditch United, as well as Step 5 side Lye Town.

With nothing to fear, The Plumbs got off to the brighter start in the Bromsgrove rain. Sam Clark found space at the back post from a Pershore corner in the 8th minute and had the whole goal to choose from, but his finish was driven straight at Adam Harrison in the City goal. An early let off for City.

With the rain continuing to fall and the atmosphere electric, both teams were struggling to cut each other open, lacking that moment of composure and quality, as the conditions had their effect. The most likely avenues for both sides looked to be through a set piece, and on 23 minutes City’s Aaron Roberts rose highest but his looping header was comfortably over Eddie Cox's Pershore goal. At the other end, Matt Nutt found himself open at the far post in the 39th minute but he couldn’t stretch his leg enough to connect with corner kick, and thus the two teams went to the break goalless.

Following the break, the sides continued to pile on the pressure through set pieces, and City had a let off in the 48th minute when Scott Hammond’s deep cross for The Plumbs bounced off the top of the crossbar and behind for a goal kick. Minutes later, City midfielder Reiss Taylor-Randle’s corner curled straight towards the back post but keeper Cox was just able to get enough on it and clear behind.

With the tie heading for a dramatic finale, the deadlock was finally broken by City in the 70th minute when Demetri Brown and George Baker linked up, cutting a way through the resolute Pershore defence. Brown was slid through and delicately chipped his shot over the charging Cox to give City the lead, causing The Faithful behind the goal to erupt.

Following the goal, Pershore had to throw everything at City, and just 4 minutes later almost had their equaliser. Town striker Sam Clark found space behind the City centre backs, turning neatly. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Chris Withington slid in with a last gasp tackle to clear for a corner.

Pershore did get their equaliser though, and some goal it was. As the tie rumbled in to the 83rd minute Clark chased back towards the halfway line and stole the ball. He jinked his way to the edge of the City penalty area before guiding a beautiful curling effort in to the top right of Harrison's goal, leaving the keeper flatfooted.

City's final free kick, deep in stoppage time, was driven towards goal by winger Bailey Fuller. The Plumbs' wall stood tall, clearing with a head for a corner. Reiss Taylor-Randle swung in the cross to the near post, which was flicked on. The ball then hit Pershore centre-back Kirk Layton's head before cannoning off the post. As the ball was cleared, the referee blew for full time, and it was straight to penalties.

Bobbie Dale, James Douglas and Demetri Brown stepped up for City and despatched their penalties, but a miss by Fortune Maphosa and a Reiss Taylor-Randle saved effort gave Pershore a chance to wrap it up. Ex-City player James Baldwin hoped to have his name in lights, but his shot smashed the crossbar. In to sudden death, and up stepped Archie Muirhead who sent the keeper the wrong way, but his effort hit the foot of the post. Scott Hammond made no mistake for The Plumbs and beat Harrison, giving Pershore Town their first-ever Worcestershire Senior Cup honour.

City look to shake off the disappointment as they head in to a Bank Holiday Double Header. Firstly, The Blue And Whites make the trip to Stoke-On-Trent on Saturday to face a Hanley Town side who will be looking to wrap up the league title, before they then host Uttoxeter Town at Claines Lane on Monday (3pm) as the final home game of the season.