Save them in a ring buffer: 
my $rex = qr/Fifth/;
my @last_four;

while(<DATA>) {
    push @last_four, $_;
    shift @last_four if @last_four > 4;

    print @last_four if $_ =~ $rex;
}

__DATA__
First
Second
Third
Forth
Fifth
Sixth

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In reply to Re: Get specified number of previous line text when encountered a text match in a file by saintmike
in thread Get specified number of previous line text when encountered a text match in a file by tariqahsan

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