2008/9
Worcester City v Weston super Mare - Saturday 11th April 2009
The major talking point of this game was a referring performance that was so abject that on a rating from 0 to 10, Derek Eaton of Tewkesbury achieved the rare distinction of scoring minus 1. So poor was he that it seemed early in the second half that the Assistant Referee's were about to take over in the middle. Whilst it must be true that the reason they are referring at this level is that there are not very good surely the paying public are entitled to watch games where the referee at least has some level of knowledge of the rules of the game.
This was though a poor game between two poor teams for whom the end of the season cannot come soon enough. Weston just about shaded the first half and scored a bizarre goal to go in one up at the break. The referee erred in awarding Weston a free kick out on City's left that was eventually floated into the box and appeared to be harmlessly floating wide when the ball took an amazing "Shane Warne" type in-swing, stuck the woodwork and curled into the net. It was Weston's only shot on target in the first half. City also had one shot on target but this was saved. City should have had a penalty when a blatant hand ball went unnoticed but played continued without a whistle.
City brought on teenager Jack Connolly at half time and his presence immediately sparked a City revival which was however cruelly cut short following a corner won by Weston. The ball was easily cleared by City and play continued as City broke out of defence. Eventually the referee spotted that his assistant was flagging for a penalty which was duly converted. The reason for giving the penalty remained a mystery as none of the Weston players had appealed for it.
There's nothing like a sense of injustice to spark a team into life and Matt Dinsmore scored a fine solo goal skipping through a sleeping defence before scoring with a low ground shot. City flung everything they had got at Weston in the final fifteen minutes and created several opportunities that were not taken. City should have had a penalty when Matt Dinsmore was clearly brought down but typically a free kick was awarded the other way. A hospital tackle on Kevin Spencer saw the physio's calling for a stretcher which thankfully was not needed - it was an obvious red card but the referee produced only yellow. He did produce red though in injury time when the Weston goalkeeper faked a serious injury after a rather silly attempt by Dave Bampton to nick the ball from the goalie.
The season wound to an end and amazingly City were not been relegated.
Worcester City v Eastleigh - Saturday 21st March 2009
When the abjectly poor referee pointed to the spot two minutes from time after a seemingly innocuous challenge in the box by Ollie Barnes it handed the high-flying visitors a most fortunate three points. It was so harmless looking incident that no visiting player or supporter even bothered to appeal for a penalty. The goal that resulted was Eastleigh's only shot on target in the game - although they did hit the outside of the post in the first half and was very rough justice on a much improved City team.
Craig Wilding headed the ball into the Eastleigh goal early on but the goal was ruled out for offside. City also had a good chance early in the second half but Marco Adaggio's snap shot was superbly saved.
Although the goal was very late in the game there was still time for City to mount some last gasp attacks and from one Craig Wilding was put through one on one with the keeper but he hesitate and the chance was lost.
So sadly the final score was Referee 1 City 0.
Worcester City v Thurrock - Saturday 7th March 2009
A welcome home win for City and three points that moved the team back into the top half of the table. City were well worth their win against what in truth was a pretty mediocre visiting outfit whose three second half substitutions spoke volumes for their plight and made things worse not better for them. The first half though was a reasonably even affair until Matt Dodd was pulled over inside the box allowing Marco Adaggio to blast City into the lead with an unstoppable penalty. Thurrock's only shot in the entire game was a tame effort easily saved by Danny McDonnell.
The second half was an amazingly one-sided affair as the visitors tired badly and City were dominant in every department except goal scoring. Craig Wilding hit the bar with an audacious lob whilst Marco Adaggio stormed past the Thurrock keeper only to see his goal bound shot hacked off the line by a desperate defender. The game had entered the fourth minute of extra time before some justice was added to the scoreline when Marco Adaggio scored from close range after being set-up by a effort from Craig Wilding.
Sometimes this season watching City play has been very hard going but little by little the side is gaining in confidence and things are looking better as each week passes by.
Worcester City v Hampton & Richmond Borough - Saturday 28th February 2009
Football being a game of two halves can oft be a frustrating experience and so it proved for the City faithful as the visitors grabbed a thoroughly undeserved victory with an injury time smash and grab raid. The visitors arrived on the back of a long unbeaten run but in the first half were made to look a very poor side indeed by a polished City team who were dominant in all areas of the park. As early as the first minute City could have taken the lead after a sleeping defence allowed Matt Dodd to nip in a fire a shot goalwards from a narrow angle - the ball sadly hitting the side netting rather than the goal. It has to be said that the referee was so poor it was untrue making mistake after mistake which did not help the flow of the game and brought a totally unjustified booking for Gary Walker. Matt Dodd was deliberately shoved into the canal end wall but nothing was given and when Marco Adaggio was fouled whilst bearing down on goal the free kick went against him. In between time Matt Dodd had crossed for Adaggio to put City into the lead. If Rob Walker's shot from the best move of the game had gone in instead of narrowly wide the game would have been over.
As it was City's 1-0 lead lasted only for 5 minutes of the second half before woeful defending saw the equaliser. City were well in the second half forcing at least 8 corners but with no positive results. As City wilted Hampton at least came into the game but it was really rough justice when they scored again deep into injury time.
The final score then was City 1 Hampton & Richmond 2.
Worcester City v Bromley - Saturday 14th February 2009
At last City have delivered a home win even if by the narrowest of margins. With several of the bottom teams also winning it was perhaps just as well for City that they took all three points as the last thing the home fans need is to be dragged into a relegation tussle. It was certainly a time to stand up and count the number of City players on the park and for once all eleven who started can be proud of their efforts. Shabir Khan and Gary Walker's returns from injury added much needed solidity to the defence and midfield respectively. There is though a lack of firepower upfront and Craig Wilding certainly does not look comfortable at centre forward.
City should have had penalties on two instances early in the first half after Matt Dodd was twice flattened in the box but the referee waved away the appeals. It took a stunning low drive from well outside the box to give City the lead after 37 minutes. Gary Walker struck the ball superbly to the keeper's right and was rewarded as the ball snuck inside the post.
The second half saw City firmly on the backfoot as Bromley went forward in search of an equaliser but City held firm although the midfield area was firmly dominated by the visitors. Relief was at hand in the shape of an inspired substitution by manager Richard Dryden, albeit in the veteran legs of Assistant Manager, Carl Heeley. Carl assumed the role of centre forward allowing Craig Wilding to drop back to a more familiar midfield role and from then on the visitors chance of a point was gone. Indeed City went close to adding a second in the dying minutes of the game to leave a final score of Worcester city 1 Bromley 0.
Worcester City v Bishop's Stortford - Saturday 31st January 2009
On a bitterly cold January day the City faithful duly gathered at St George's Lane hoping to see the home team end a four month barren spell at home. Sadly it was not to be and the writing was on the wall when the visitors took an early lead with a shot from outside the box. Matt Dinsmore went close with a blistering drive but from then on it was downhill as the score was soon 0-2 with City down to ten players after Jamie Price had been sent off following a very poor challenge.
City, to their credit, fought back hard in the second half and the crowd was briefly warmed up by an audacious lob from Marco Adaggio that reduced the arrears but yet another defensive mistake saw the visitors restore their two goal lead which they held comfortably as City ran out of steam.
Worcester City v Havant & Waterlooville - Saturday 24th January 2009
Havant & Waterlooville spoiled City's 50th Anniversary of the defeat of Liverpool celebrations by stealing an undeserved point with a late smash and grad raid at St George's Lane. The South Coast team were comprehensively outplayed by a City team having their best home performance since the defeat of Wimbledon in October.
The first thirty minutes of the game belonged firmly to City as they relaxed after Matt Dodd has scored from close range.
Havant though slowly raised their game and Danny McDonnell was called into action to save a couple of tame shots but just before half time he was powerless to stop the ball being blasted into the back of the net after a rare mistake by Olllie Barnes had gifted the visitors a gilt edged chance.
City continued to play well after the half time interval and Matt Dodd was inches wide of doubling his tally before a wonder strike and welcome goal from super star, Marco Adaggio restored City's lead. His shot from outside the area deserved to win any game. City should have wrapped up the game during the next few minutes as they swept aside a poor looking Havant defence. Adaggio shot narrowly wide when a goal seemed a certainty before the Havant keeper produced a breathtaking save to stop another piledriver. The resulting corner flew across the box but nobody was at the far post for what would have been a simple tap in goal.
With time running out Havant reluctantly came out of their defence shell in search of the equaliser which they duly obtained with seconds only remaining on the clock to leave a final score of City 2 Havant & Waterlooville 2.
Worcester City v Newport County - Monday 19th January 2009
After a four-week absence football returned to St George's Lane with the resumption of the Blue Square South season - an event many thought would never happen after the recent turmoil at the club. But on a bitterly cold night a good number of Newport County supporters made the short trip over from Wales for this match.
It was a return too for former City players, Ashley Vickers and Steve Jenkins. Ashley had played for City in 1993/4 making his debut in an FA Cup defeat at Tiverton Town, He made nine appearances for City and has since been a regular performer at the likes of Dagenham & Redbridge. Steve Jenkins, on the other hand, made 10 appearances for City in 1996/7 before moving on to play at Newport.
Ashley was named on the bench for this game but played for 87 minutes after an injury forced an early substitution.
Newport looked a neat, tidy and compact team who were well marshalled at the back and possess considerable ability to break out quickly to turn defence into attack. Newport certainly had the best of the first half and City keeper, Danny McDonnell, made several smart saves. Worcester had two early penalty appeals turned down and Matt Dinsmore was inches away from connecting with a Marco Adaggio cross with the goal at his mercy. City though for all their possession could not muster a shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
City stepped up a gear in the second half and looked a lot more impressive outfit, forcing Newport further back on the defence. City's defence rarely looked under pressure and Matt Dodd forced a fine saved from the Newport keeper whilst Graham Ward was only inches away from scoring a spectacular goal from distance.
City though were almost undone by their only wobble of the evening. The home side won a corner and all the big defenders piled into the Newport box expecting the customary cross. Instead a stupid short ball routine was played which broke down instantly and Newport drove forward with purpose. City were unable to clear their lines properly until a superb low shot smashed against the base of home side's post before rebounding in spectacular fashion along the goal line and out for a goal kick. After this let off City were not troubled again and the final result of 0-0 was in the end a fair reflection of proceedings.
Andrew Smith
Worcester City v Bognor Regis Town - Saturday 20th December 2008
SUN SETS OVER ST GEORGE'S LANE
A spectacular sunset over the church was matched by an equally wondrous free kick by Ollie Barnes that gave Worcester City a well deserved lead at half time and broke a home team goal drought that went all the way back to 4 th October (if you exclude the goal against Wimbledon in the FA Trophy). In then first Bognor certainly showed why they are bottom of the table as they failed to mount a worthwhile attack in the first 45 minutes. They seemed a different team in the second half as they stepped up a gear and deservedly equalised albeit it with a poor shot from well outside the penalty area that went underneath Danny McDonnell , the City keeper perhaps still feeling the effects of bad fouls committed on him; one in either half.
City continued to look good in attack with Shabir Khan delivering well flighted crosses from the left wing; one of which saw Marco Adaggio's shot saved well by the Bognor keeper.
The final score then was a 1-1 draw and the slim picking at home this season which has seen only two victories continues to leave City fans wondering why the team can win away but not at home.
2009 is soon upon us and hopefully City can reclaim the title of "Fortress St George's Lane"; instead of "Open house".
COMMENT
The only topic under discussion on the terraces was the recent interview given by the new Chairman, Anthony Hampson, outlining the current financial plight of the club. The Chairman pulled no punches in his assessment of the situation which can be summed up as Fixed Asset rich, Current Asset poor. The obvious solution is to liquidate the fixed asset as soon as possible, but this is just what the Directors of past have tried to do over the last ten years or so.
The fans that I spoke to simply want the club to continue even if in a lower league than today. In a week that has seen 30,000 staff at MFI and Woolworths facing a bleak Christmas it is hard to find reasons to be cheerful but that wonderful strike by Ollie Barnes ends 2008 at home on a brighter note.
Andrew Smith
Worcester City v Chelmsford City - Saturday 29th November 2008
City fans were left wondering quite how their team failed to beat a desperately poor Chelmsford City team who either are not very good or more likely simply played very badly. Little seemed to go right for City not helped by a referee who could best be described as average for this league; or totally inadequate depending on your point of view. Typical was when Craig Wilding was floored a yard inside the box but got instead a free kick award on the edge of the penalty area. Four times the ball was handled inside the penalty area by Chelmsford defenders at least two of which could by no stretch of the imagination be described as ball to hand.
City were undone by Chelmsford's only attack of note in the first half which just about sums up how inept their display was - not what is expected of the runaway leaders of the league. They barely seemed able to put two passes together. But when your luck is out then so be it as the final score was 0-1.
COMMENT
We have refrained on this site from commenting upon the rights and wrongs of the various cases put forward by those seeking to gain control of the club but one thing that is needed now is for all to rally round the new board and the plan that Shareholders endorsed to move to Nunnery Way.
However what cannot be left uncorrected though are the various statements made about St Modwen which are not borne out by reference to the facts about the Company. Many thousands of people owe their jobs to the continued profitability of St Modwen who have re-developed dozens of run down sites in recent years and who are the leading lights in bringing life back to the wasteland at Longbridge that was left following the demise of the Austin.
St Modwen can trace its heritage back to two Victorian entrepreneurs; Hammersley Heenan and Richard William Froude who founded their business in Manchester in 1877. The company they founded, Heenan & Froude, have been in Worcester since 1903 when they bought the largely empty Worcester Engine Works on Shrub Hill Road from J.F. Pease & Co of Darlington. From the 1930s, under the Chairmanship of A.P.Good, Heenan's bought numerous site across the UK which became the foundation of their property empire. In partnership with Bert Redman, a 1960s property magnate, the business acquired other industrial sites in the City of Worcester on which they established state of the art factories to provide bases for companies to carry out heavy engineering works such as dynamometers and cooling towers. Redman Heenan Properties took over Clarke St Modwen in the 1970s which led to the change of name to St Modwen.
The suggestions that they are ruthless operators who are only interested in making a quick buck before moving on are very far from accurate. Profit is the life blood of the capitalist economy not its enemy.
Andrew Smith
Worcester City v Welling United - Saturday 1st November 2008
City Slump Continues
Worcester City's dramatic slump in fortune continued at St George's Lane when they were well beaten by a fairly average Welling United team. City were hit by an early injury blow when Dave Bampton's role was effectively ended as a result of a crude and dangerous tackle in the middle of the field that earned the Welling player a yellow card when red was more appropriate. Gary Walker replaced him soon afterwards but it was Welling who looked the stronger team, aided by a fierce wind. They took the lead with a neat finish on 31 minutes and City never really looked like rescuing a point. City's best, indeed only, effort in the first half was a Gary Walker pile-driver that flew inches wide of the far post.
The introduction of Matt Dodd in the second half sparked a brief City revival but there is obvious need for more fire power up front and more guile in midfield. Jamie Price had City's best effort but his shot flew just over the bar. Little was seen of Welling in the second half as they too could not get to grips with the strong wind. As the game wore Welling did everything they could to slow the game down with numerous players collapsing in a heap after being tackled, balls being kicked needlessly away and inevitably the desperate 'keep the ball by the corner flag routine' that pleases neither sets of supporters.
It is to be hoped that new players will soon be found to boost the strength of a team who look well out of sorts and are now struggling to get the ball in the net.
Worcester City v Team Bath - Monday 20th October 2008
The oddly named Team Bath (they are neither a team in the accepted sense of the word nor representatives of the City of Bath) visited Worcester on a cold and miserable Monday night for the local "derby" game. The almost total absence of visiting supporters made for a slightly surreal atmosphere as many of the home fans had chosen to stay at home also - perhaps there was little to attract them to a game that featured such unglamorous opposition. Quite why the football authorities allowed a University Academy Team to enter the pyramid of football is a mystery but if they gain the expected promotion to the Premier league at the end of the season maybe then action will be taken. Whilst acknowledging that Academy and University teams have much to recommend them they should not be playing in the football pyramid as this is only one step away from finding the football Championship dominated by the reserve teams of Premiership clubs.
Team Bath's set of young, fit and skilful full timers were though kept in check by a City team that more than matched them for fitness and the game developed into a largely midfield stalemate. City's only chance of the half came early on when the last Bath defender stopped a City attack with a crude and ugly lunge from behind. It was an obvious penalty and sending off offence but the woefully inadequate referee chose to play on. Team Bath could not manage a shot on goal either but they led 1-0 at half time after an attempted clearance by the City goalkeeper took an unfortunate rebound into the City goal.
City were more lively in the second half and came close with a free kick that was well saved but inevitably gaps appeared at the back as City pressed forward but were not aided by the early removal from the fray of Dave Bampton and Jamie Price.
It was not all doom and gloom though including what must rank as probably the worse penalty miss of all time at St George's Lane: worse even than the famed West Bromwich Albion penalty that had to be retrieved from the canal. That one at least had the virtue of passing over the crossbar at a reasonable height but for this one, even a keeper with arms 20 foot long arms would have got nowhere near it as it crashed into the canalside wall seemingly nearer to the corner flag than the goal.
City's best attempts were often thwarted by the linesman on the Brookside who was clearly not up to job, waving for non-existent offside's whilst missing fouls taking place within two yards of his position. After Team Bath had doubled their lead the whole evening was neatly summed up in injury time when City were awarded a free kick in a good position. It took awhile to retrieve the ball after a Team Bath had deliberately kicked it downfield after the free kick had been given (he was not yellow carded though). The wall retreated about four yards whilst the referee paced out the 10 yards. He waved and blew his whistle furiously as the wall refused to retreat more than another yard. Eventually the referee gave up and signalled for the free kick to be taken whilst all the time the City fans and players were desperately trying to draw his attention to a City player wishing to return to the field of play after injury.
The final score was City 0 Team Bath 2 in what was hopefully the first and last visit of this 'team' to St George's Lane.
Worcester City v AFC Wimbledon - Saturday 4th October 2008
When Jamie Price smashed home City's third goal in a stunning opening quarter of the game the large bank of travelling Wimbledon supporters were at last stunned into silence as fans of both sides could not believe what they were seeing.
City were transformed from last week's moribund bunch into a team fit to grace the highest levels of non-league football whilst Wimbledon looked anything but promotion favourites.
City's opening goal on 42 seconds, the fastest at the Lane that I can remember since the 1980s, came courtesy of comical defending as a very weak header back to the keeper, even wind assisted, went barely a third of the desired distance. Worse though was that it fell straight to Marco Adaggio who coolly blasted it past the stunned keeper.
It could have been 2-0 after the keeper spilled a shot straight to Craig Wilding who netted the rebound only to be ruled offside.
Wimbledon's defending was like something out of an Oliver & Hardy film, none more so than when Jamie Price's free kick was headed towards goal by Craig Wilding. To the disbelief of all around the keeper had advanced so far off his line that the ball looped easily over his head before dipping into the net.
After 23 minutes it was 3-0 when Jamie Price let fly from 30 yards after making ground down the left. The ball hit the far post and went into the net for a 3-0 lead.
Wimbledon looked hot on the break and pulled a goal back after Tom Davis fell over in the City box and whilst everyone stopped to see what the referee would do he picked himself up and fired the ball home.
It ought to have been game over straight after half time as Matt Dodd powered a header against the foot of the post from where it was scrambled clear. Instead of 4-1 it was 3-2 when poor marking allowed Sam Hatton to score from a free kick.
Wimbledon tried hard to get the equaliser but good chances also fell to City to leave a final score of City 3 Wimbledon 2 before 1,725 spectators.
Worcester City v Fisher Athletic - Monday 15th September 2008
The newspaper headline of "Meltdown Monday" greeted commuters on their way to work - a headline that could equally describe City's game against Fisher as it does the current crisis in the City of London. The wisdom on playing games on a Monday night has been debated on several instances in recent years with the prevailing view being that "crowds are better' and 'visiting players are tired' holding sway. Neither was much in evidence last night where the only tired team on view was the home one. The visitors were buoyed by a win on Saturday whilst City had expended superhuman amounts of effort to salvage a draw against Braintree (see below).
City opened very brightly and generally dominated a first half that saw them beginning to play like a team rather then a group of individuals who had just met for the first time. City went into the lead early on when a mistake in the Fisher defence let in Jemiah Richards who hit a low shot into the corner of the net. City had lots of possession and should have scored many more than the one goal that separated the teams at half time.
Fisher though were by far the best team in the second half as they finally got their passing game together and they deservedly equalised late in the game through substitute Sanchez Ming. The goal was greeted by almost total silence in St George's Lane as for the first time in recent years there was not a visiting supporter to be seen in the ground. A sad reflection on the current economic situation.
The next few games will expose City to much stronger teams than of late starting at Welling on Saturday and followed by the visit of Tamworth in the FA Cup the following week.
Worcester City v Braintree Town - Saturday 13th September 2008
This match opened at a frantic pace with no less than six chances - three for each side being created and missed within the first five minutes.
Gradually though Braintree gained the upper hand and took the lead by courtesy of some dreadful marking that saw Sean Marks totally free to slot the ball home from close range.
City came back strongly and were very unlucky not to equalise when a Matt Dinsmore pile driver rebounded back off the crossbar.
Braintree went further ahead after a missed clearance saw the ball fired home through a forest of players with the City keeper unsighted. The visitors totally dominated the remainder of the first half but failed to add to the score.
The introduction of Troy Wood for Marco Adaggio sparked much need life into a moribund City performance and within three minutes the arrears had been halved after a Matt Dinsmore cross had hit the hand of Stevland Angus. It looked a harsh decision but Matt Dinsmore made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Suddenly it was all City but Jemiah Richards was guilty of a glaring miss after beating the keeper to a through ball. Dean Clarke made several good saves but was helpless as a sliced clearance nearly went into goal.
Finally City got their reward when Jamie Prices accurate cross was firmly headed home by Ollie Barnes to leave a final score of City 2 Braintree 2 before a crowd of 703.
Worcester City v Hayes & Yeading - Saturday 16th August 2008
City brought down to earth
Worcester City suffered a reality check at St George’s Lane after being outplayed by a competent Hayes & Yeading United side.
The visitors had the ball in the City net as early as the 4th minute but the effort was ruled out for offside. That should have alerted City to the visitors attacking potential but fans were still reflecting on the let-off when Hayes & Yeading United took the lead with a neat finish from Will Hendry.
City though ought to have been level after Marco Adaggio was brought down in the penalty area when clean through on goal. Amazingly the referee awarded instead a free kick to City on the edge of the area. A penalty was awarded though soon after but at the other end. A quickly taken free kick ended with the referee deciding that the City keeper, Danny McDonnell, has brought down a visiting striker although most of the crowd thought that it was in fact a clean save. On such incidents as these are games decided and so if proved after the penalty had been cleanly put away.
Heavy rain and a brief protest from agitators greeted the players at the start of the second half and the mood did not improve when Hayes & Yeading added a third goal from another free kick mid way through the half.
As the game wore on the decisions on the pitch seemed to go increasingly in favour of the visitors, culminating in a bizarre booking for Jamie Price after the City midfielder had been the victim of a awful challenge that could easily have seen both players on the way to casualty. The referee however awarded a throw-in to City which just about summed things up as City slipped to defeat by 3 goals to 0.
Worcester City v St Albans City - Monday 11th August 2008
City start with a flourish
City fans got their first taste of what it will take to be competitive in the Blue Square Conference South this season when a highly talented St Albans City team visited St George’s Lane on Monday night.
It was immediately obvious that they were very strong in the passing game as they tore into Worcester from the start, controlling the midfield and putting immense pressure on the City back four. With the midfielders frequently forced back into defence City had little opportunity to show any attacking ability.
The City goal however remained intact and then suddenly City took control and scored when the athletic Marco Adaggio’s overhead kick crashed back off the underside of the crossbar and with the aid of a fortunate bounce crossed the goal line The referee, who controlled the game well, signalled for a goal and City were in front.
It was a lead they never looked like relinquishing as City finally got to grips with the pace of the game. Indeed City could have had a second goal before half time when Marco Adaggio appeared to be pushed off the ball in the penalty area but nothing was given.
The second half, as so often last season, belonged firmly to City, as they found their attacking boots. Any nerves that remained went once Matt Dinsmore had powerfully headed home a left wing cross early in the second half. City could have added more goals before the end as the visitors wilted under the pressure. St Albans though were still dangerous on the break but when they shot the ball wide from barely one yard out it seemed to sum up their evening and their disappointed fans, a goodly number of whom had made the trip to Worcester, knew the points belonged to City.
The final score before a good crowd of 944 was City 2 St Albans 0.
Archived 3/1/2012; amended 5/9/2013