2010/11
Worcester City v Blyth Spartans - Wednesday 30th April 2011
The long season finally drew to a close with City recording their first win for some time. There were a lot of Blyth Spartans fans in the ground to boost the attendance to 509. Not bad for an end of season jolly in the sunshine. City, who handed starts to Kyonn Evans and Luke Bottomer, were vastly better than in the miserable mid-week defeat in the Worcestershire Senior Cup. There was a very strong wind blowing towards the Dressing Room end of the ground and City had first use of it. It took just seven minutes for City to score. Asa Charlton's free kick went to Kyonn Evans and the youngster showed cool skill to bring the ball under control before beating the keeper with a well-struck shot. City took every opportunity to shoot at goal and the Blyth keeper made a series of excellent saves to deny the home side another goal.
The second half was a very even affair with Blyth creating good chances in the first twenty minutes but mostly their shooting was way off target. City came right back into the game and with Tom Thorley in fine form had opportunities to add to their tally as the visitors tired in the sun.
This win moves City up to 16th place in the table, well clear of the relegation zone. With City's narrow escape from relegation last season on their minds the bookmakers has made City favorites for relegation - that City were never in danger of this happening say lots about the progress made this season.
Worcester City v Stourbridge - Wednesday 27th April 2011 (at Kidderminster)
City's season is ending on a very low point with this tired and jaded looking performance in the final of the Worcestershire Senior Cup which saw City lose to two first half goals. Stourbridge were good value for their win although City were competitive in the first twenty minutes. Once Stourbridge had taken the lead with a scrappy goal and then doubled it shortly afterwards there was never going to be a way back for City.
Many City fans chose to leave before the end of the game and this about sums up the last few games. It seems the number of games in such a short period has finally taken its toll on the small squad that finances have dictated.
Stourbridge defended well in the second half and City rarely threatened a consolation to leave a final score of City 0 Stourbridge 2.
Worcester City v Eastwood Town - Saturday 23rd April 2011
Despite Eastwood Town being in the play-off places the game had been rendered meaningless by those who seem to want to run football for their own benefit rather than that of the spectators. There can surely be no sensible reason why Eastwood should be denied their right to take part in the end of season action. The state of the game is bad enough without those supposed to be in charge messing up so badly.
The game itself was played at a fairly leisurely pace on one of the hottest April days in recent times. The first half was a very close affair with City playing neat football but finding themselves behind thanks to yet another goal direct from a corner. The poor state of the pitch contributed to many passes going astray with few goalmouth incidents of note.
Eastwood had plenty of chances to increase their lead after the break but Dean Coleman made a series of fine saves to deny the visitors a second goal. City brought on Luke Bottomer and Matt Dinsmore to add much needed fresh legs and suddenly things improved for City who won their first corner. Matt Dinsmore drilled the ball to the near post where it should have been cleared but the ball spiralled goalwards and was scrambled away to Asa Charlton who smashed the ball into the roof of the net. Both sides then had goals disallowed for offside as the end of the game caused a rare burst of activity to leave a final score of 1-1.
Worcester City v Guiseley - Saturday 9th April 2011
A deflected goal and then a fortuitous one following an error by the referee handed a poor Guiseley team three very undeserved points against a City side looking for their first home win for two months.
The first half was a fairly even affair with the best chance falling to City's Danny Glover who saw his shot well saved by former City keeper James Coates.
City pressed forward in some style at the start of the second half but Guiseley scored a goal when a lucky break saw the ball rear up off the shin of Guiseley's Centre Forward to give Dean Coleman no chance. City stormed back onto the attack and Danny Glover's well struck free kick gave Coates no chance.
Guiseley grabbed an unlikely winner thanks to a monumental blunder by the referee. Marc McGregor was dumped on his back side by a poor challenge. It was such an obvious foul that all the players stopped, but the whistle never came and sensing his opportunity the Guiseley player, who had committed the foul, let fly from nearly 40 yards and the ball flew into the city net at speed.
Coates continued to deny City an equaliser and so Guiseley kept up their play-off push with this 2-1 win.
Worcester City v Stafford Rangers - Monday 4th April 2011
Relegation threatened Stafford Rangers took a hard earned point away from St Georges Lane after twice coming back from a goal behind. The visitors looked nervous and uneasy in the face of a cultured City team for whom Tom Thorley was outstanding. It was Thorley who scored the City opener with a fine finish after being put through by a neat pass from Danny Glover.
The return of Simon Richman and Matt Burley gave City a lot of width and both were a constant thorn in Stafford's side. The only threats the visitors could muster came from set pieces and their equaliser came with a fine header from a corner.
City stormed forward and Burley crashed a shot against the bar with the rebound being slide home by Marc McGregor.
Stafford again drew level with a goal straight from a free kick to leave a final score of City 2 Rangers 2.
City v Droylesden - Monday 21st March 2011
The second of City's home double header ended the same way was as the first - in defeat for the home team, but this was a far better performance than against Telford. City were undone by a combination of poor finishing and awful referring. The latter's continual use of the whistle and his obvious delight in producing yellow cards at regular intervals ruined a hard but very fair game for both players and spectators. The final straw for City fans was his ruling out of what looked a good City goal shortly before time.
The visitors were a strong but drab side who, once they got an unlikely lead, resorted to defense and the usual time wasting tactics that come with that strategy. Certainly Droylesden were nowhere near as good as either Telford or Alfreton even it as times they looked a poor relation to the latter.
The visitors had only one real attack in each half. The first half break resulted in the goal when a pinpoint cross was firmly headed in at the near post. The second half attack was well saved by Dean Coleman who performed well despite being a spectator for most of the game. City had good chances to score in both halves but the visitors goalkeeper made several fine saves but he was powerless when City thought they had equalised only for the lousy referee to rule it out to leave a final score of City 0 Droylesden 1.
Worcester City v AFC Telford United - Saturday 19th March 2011
Even before the kick off City fans has much to grumble about having, for reasons unknown, been forced to use the "away end" as the "home" end had been given over to the Telford supporters, thus depriving City fans of a decent view of the action with the low winter sunshine making it all but impossible to see anything. Hopefully City fans will never again get treated in this shoddy manner.
Having surrendered the psychological advantage even before the start the actual game was all over after barely three minutes. Dreadful defending handed Telford an easy goal and the home side generosity gave away two more goals before half time.
The second half was a non event.
Worcester City v Alfreton - Monday 8th March 2011
Alfreton showed just why they are such hot favourites for the league title as they brushed aside the best the best that a on-form City side could deliver. City showed fire, determination and real skill as they more than matched the visitors in all bar the number of goals scored. City were boosted by an early goal from Danny Glover who beat the Alfreton keeper to the ball and looped a header into the unguarded net. The remainder of the first half though saw Alfreton in the ascendency and it was little more than they deserved when they equalised from a penalty after a poor challenge produced the inevitable spot kick. Right on half time Liam Daish showed why he is such a hot shot scoring with a fierce effort from a narrow angle.
The second half though belonged firmly to City who tore apart the visitors defence with wave after wave of breathtaking moves. City created four clear cut chances but the Alfreton keeper was up to the task and kept the ball from entering the net. Alfreton were happy to pull players back into defence and their much vaunted attack was given very poor service indeed as they were left trying to run on to hopeful long balls from their defence. City's midfield sparkled as Alfreton fell back deeper and deeper towards their own goal but alas for City the equaliser just would not come.
Worcester City v Hyde United - Monday 14th February 2011
City sprang a surprise before kick-off with the announcement that Josh Quaynor, who had previously had a loan spell at City, had signed from Redditch United.
If the fans expected a repeat of Saturday's midfield stalemate they were pleasantly surprised as the sides delivered an all-action encounter with plenty of excellent goals. Hyde were first out of the starting gate and but for a fantastic save by Dean Coleman and a badly missed header City would have been two down inside three minutes. It was the nearest the visitors got to winning the game as City scored with three breathtaking attacks in the next ten minutes. The presence of Marc McGregor alongside the potent combination of Mark Danks and Danny Glover was always going to be a handful for any defence and so it proved. Kevin O'Connor crossed from the left wing was headed home by Glover who then drove home a second after a neat knock down by Rob Elvins. Rob Elvins had all the time in the world to pick his spot for City's third following a cross from Gavin Hurran.
Hyde refused to lie down and in the blink of an eye had pulled back two goals with a piledriver from 25 yards followed by a simple tap in from close range. But for a goal line clearance it would have been all square at half time. Indeed City needed the interval desperately in order to draw breath and regroup their forces. Whatever was said in the dressing room did the trick as it was a much more settled City performance in the second half. The City midfield came into its own as the home side played within their comfort zone, attacking with patience and control whilst snuffing out the opposition's lively forwards. Inevitable Danks was involved in City's fourth goal as he broke down the left before the attack was switched to the other side and when the cross came in Danny Glover was on hand to score his third. City easily played out the remainder of the game to win by 4 goals to 2 and move up to tenth in the table.
Worcester City v Stalybridge Celtic - Saturday 12th February 2011
A very dull first half in which the only attack of note saw Tom Thorley's shot well saved early in the game was enlivened at half time as your intrepid reporter won a CD in the half time draw - a first ever win after many fruitless years.
The pitch played its part in preventing much in the way of good football from either side but City were never in any real danger of losing this one. With the visitors on the defensive for most of the game inevitable tiredness crept in and no less than three Stalybridge players were booked for bad tackles - one of which left Tom Evans with a nasty looking ankle injury. City used all three substitutes as they stepped up the pace of the game in the last quarter of an hour but nevertheless the game looked to be petering out into a goalless draw.
However, as the game approached the final whistle Graham Ward's pinpoint cross picked out Ryan Clarke who got the ball to Danny Glover who chested the ball down and fired in a shot on goal. The ball appeared to hit Marc McGregor's midriff before flying into the net to send most of the crowd of just over 600 home happy.
City are at home to Hyde United on Monday at 7:45pm.
Halesowen Town v Worcester City - Tuesday 8th February 2011
If City fans thought this game would be an easy stroll in the park they were rudely awaken when Halesowen took the field for this Worcestershire Senior Cup Semi-final game. Indeed City created very little in a half hearted first half and it was the home side who created the best chances, one of which they took to go into the break with a 0-1 lead. The goal itself was a bit of a fluke as a long range shot hit a divot in the pitch and changed direction to give Dean Coleman no chance in the City goal.
The second half saw the visitors dominate the game but not before Dean Coleman made a fine save just when it looked like City would go two down. An own goal (with perhaps an assist by Mark Danks) and a very good header from Kevin O'Connor settled matters in a second half that was largely one way traffic as the youngsters in the the Halesowen team tired on the heavy pitch. City then win 2-1.
Worcester City v Boston United - Saturday 5th February 2011
No disrespect is intended to other clubs when one says that this is the one game in the season eagerly awaited as games against Boston United are usually all-action affairs with no quarter asked and none given. Today's rematch certainly did not disappoint even despite a near gale force wind blowing towards the canal end. City had first use of it although whether it was better to be with or without the wind was highly debatable. Right from the first foul of the game talking points ensued as other players got involved for no apparent reason. Boston though started brightly but with, often illegal, tackles flying in regularly there were constant mass confrontations on the pitch that kept the referee busy with his yellow cards flying in all directions.
City often overhit the ball in their eagerness to get forward and the Boston keeper was able to clear up most of the best that City could offer. Boston could not cope with the conditions either and it was a desperately bad piece of defending that gifted City the lead. Boston's No.5 seriously misjudged the flight of the ball and eventually punched the ball away. It was an obvious penalty and to the crowd behind the goal, who had the best view of the incident, the player's action clearly prevented a clear cut goalscoring chance and so he should have seen red. Amazingly the referee chose not to take any further action, only reluctantly showing a yellow card as the player stupidly protested his innocence.
With Mark Danks's suspect penalty style lately it was a relief to see Danny Glover step up and stroke the ball effortlessly into the bottom left hand corner of the net. City then hit their best spell of the game including a shot the rattled the crossbar.
City continued to attack with some style in the second half and Boston could make no inroads despite using all three substitutes. As the game moved into the last quarter City found themselves down to ten men when Dean Coleman misjudged the flight of the ball in the strong wind and handled it outside the area. The red card inevitably followed giving Richard Mace an unexpected few minutes in goal. It would have been understandable if his handling had been suspect as he had no time to warm up. However, he rose to the occasion with three superb saves.
The nerves of the City's fans were settled five minutes from time. A superb goal apparently but unseen by me as I was otherwise engaged. By all accounts Danny Glover flighted a superb right wing cross to Tom Thorley and either him or the nearby defender hit the ball into the net.
The final score was therefore City 2 Boston United 0; a very satisfying scoreline.
Gloucester City v Worcester City - Wednesday 26th January 2011
The battle of the cities ended all square after a fiery encounter at the Whaddon Road ground of Cheltenham Town. Since Worcester's last visit to this ground Cheltenham have gone on to play at a higher level and several impressive new stands have appeared. It was just a shame that barely 400 people were in the ground and two sides of it not even populated by "ball-boys", leading to delays as the players had to go into the stands to retrieve the ball. Gloucester started brightly and should have scored inside the first thirty seconds but the chance went begging. Danny Glover forced a good save out of the Gloucester keeper but most of the action was at the other end including a good save by Dean Coleman and another shot that flew away to safety from the post.
The game burst into life on half time when Gloucester's central defender, Hector Mackie, let himself and his team down with a flying lunge into Danny Glover that rightly brought an immediate red card.
City dominated the second half and a rare goal from the impressive Gary Walker opened the scoring for the visitors. It was a sublime goal as Walker surged forward before launching the ball goalwards from all of thirty yards. The Gloucester keeper was nowhere to be seen as the ball flew past him into the net. Simon Richman narrowly failed to settle the game a few minutes later but his shot went wide. City were then caught pressing too far upfield and Tom Thorley's poor challenge was an obvious penalty from which Gloucester equalised.
City failed to take advantage of the extra player but never looked in any danger of conceding another goal.
The game was winding down when tensions flared after a foul on Ryan Clarke led to a melee ending with no less than four players booked and a Gloucester official banished from the dugout. After no less than seven minutes of added time the game ended at 1-1.
Worcester City v Eastleigh - Monday 17th January 2011
City fans had no complaints after this season's F.A. Trophy exit at the hands of Eastleigh in an all action tie at St George's Lane. The visitors started with four forwards and by the half time whistle most of their team were camped in the City half of the field. The opening goal though went to City as a superb move ended with Danny Glover blasting the ball into the net. It was however largely one-way traffic towards the City goal but the defence repelled all efforts by the visitors to gain an equaliser. It seemed too good to last as indeed it was. The flood gates opened in the second half and the game was lost well before two late goals gave the scoreline a flattering appearance. This Eastleigh side was without doubt the best seen at the Lane this season and their greater experience proved the key to their success. It is to City's great keeper that they remained in the lead for so long before conceding from a free kick. It was almost inevitable that a second would follow. The final score was 4-1 to the visitors.
Worcester City v Corby Town - Monday 10th January 2011
It was an night of frustration for City fans as a well organised defence repelled every City attempt to break them down. The game was largely one-way traffic towards the visitors goal but for all their efforts the home side could not find a way through the defence. Adam Webster returned to the Lane in the No.9 shirt for Corby but was largely ineffective due to very poor service from his defence. Simon Richman had the best attempt in the first half but his shot rebounded to safety from the post. It just about summed up City's night which got worse in the second half when Corby gained a free-kick on the City right and scored with just about their first attack in the game. City pressed forward in search of the equaliser with Mark Danks looking sharp and forcing saves from the visitors keeper. City got the ball into the net late on in the game but an offside flag ruled out the effort. As time ran out City gifted Corby a second to send a rather wet crowd heading for the exits.
Redditch United v Worcester City - Monday 3rd January 2011
There was plenty of effort and enthusiasm from both teams to entertain a sparse Bank Holiday crowd of just 505 - probably half of whom had made the journey from Worcester. At its best the Valley Stadium makes a depressing sight, even more so when most of the toilets are out of action on a freezing January day. Redditch are a workmanlike team made of of journeymen footballers including many who have previously played for the City. Local derbies always seem to be a curious mixture of high passion and boring stalemates but not so this one. Passion was strangely lacking, perhaps the near certainty of relegation had drowned the spirits of the home fans or maybe they too have tired of the drab and depressing state of their club and stadium. But, on the field, there was no shortage of goalmouth action. That the game ended at 0-0 says more about the excellence of the goalkeeping as it does anything else.
Redditch used the advantage of the slope to good effect in the first half but found City keeper Dave Parton in unbeatable form; that and wasteful shooting saw the game goalless at half time. Little had been seen of City as an attacking force perhaps affected by the early loss of Marc McGregor who had to leave the field after an ankle injury.
The second half was almost the total opposite of the first as City launched a devastating series of attacks that on another day would have bagged a hatfull of goals but today the Redditch keeper was not to be beaten.
A point each then was a fair result.
Worcester City v Gloucester City - Saturday 1st January 2011
All the talk on the terraces before the game was whether or not City could reach the heights of play seen in the final 20 minutes of the game against Vauxhall Motors. Although not quite reaching that level City were far and away too good for a workman-like if limited Gloucester team and ran out very comfortable winners despite the best efforts of a woefully inadequate referee to spoil the contest. Gloucester started the game quite brightly but City's defence looked very strong and debutant keeper, Dave Parton, on-loan from Stoke City, had little in the way of work to do. City slowly started to get into gear and it came as no surprise when Marc McGregor displayed superb skill to swivel and drive a shot past the wrong-footed keeper. It was a just reward for McGregor who straight from the first whistle seemed to have been targeted by the referee and so was the victim of many of the appalling decisions by the man in the middle. City scored again on the stroke of half time when a deft lob from Mark Danks rebounded from the far post where an alert Danny Glover was on hand to score with a neat header.
City thought they had scored again early in the second half only for the joker in black to rule it out for an alleged foul on the visiting keeper. City had two more glorious chances to increase their lead but the former Weston-super-Mare keeper made two stunning saves. Gloucester showed more determination in the second half but failed to get a shot on target.
A reasonable holiday crowd of 833 were present including a fair number from Gloucester.
Worcester City v Vauxhall Motors - Monday 13th December 2010
The City manager, Carl Heeley, stuck with the eleven who played against Northwich on Saturday showing his displeasure at the recent suspensions of the leading scorers, Mark Danks and Danny Glover, by handing them only the Nos.15 and 16 shirts. City were all at sea as the visitors took the home defence apart. A glorious chance was missed inside the first minute when the ball was headed over an unguarded net from barely two yards out after a defensive howler. The reprieve was short lived as a well directed corner was met perfectly giving the City keeper no chance of effecting a save. Marc McGregor was in his usual fine form up front but his fellow striker partner, Matt Burley, was often guilty of holding onto the ball for too long. Vauxhall continued to have things mostly their own way and their neat passing movements were a joy to behold - far better than the rough fodder that we saw served up by teams in the south. However they did not add to their tally - thanks in no small part to the efforts of City's rookie keeper. City finally got the break they needed just before half time when Tom Thorley was the first to react after the ball had rebounded into play off the Vauxhall woodwork.
The second half was a much more even affair with both sides playing good football in difficult conditions. As the visiting defence tired in the latter stages of the game the scene was set for the introduction of first Danks and then Glover to the action. There was an immediate effect as Danks made some dazzling runs down the wing. Inevitably it was he who was in the correct place to pick up the loose ball after the sides exchanged headers in the penalty area. The goal came with still fifteen minutes left but the visitors were never again in the game as an attacking force because City suddenly embarked upon the best football the home supporters have seen for many a long year. Shots rained in on a hapless keeper. McGregor scored with a header, the post rocked as it was hit by a piledriver, another shot ruled apart for a marginal offside decision, several shots cleared off the line or saved and finally Danny Glover scoring the fourth in injury time.
The Vauxhall players were left scratching their heads in disbelief as the happy band of 408 City supporters made their way home still trying to figure out if they had been dreaming for the last fifteen minutes of the game. With four wins from the last four games it might be that a corner has been turned and the recent slide down the table arrested. A word also for the referee who allowed the game to flow and produced a flawless performance.
Worcester City v Northwich Victoria - Saturday 11th December 2010
Andy Preece and Jock Morrison's return to St Georges Lane proved an unhappy one as their Northwich Victoria side went down to a narrow 1-0 defeat in this F.A. Trophy first round tie. The only goal of a very entertaining game came from full back Neil Cartwright who saw his teasing cross cum shot rebound into the net after hitting the far post. City dominated the first half and but for a superb display by the visiting keeper the game would have been all over by the interval. As it was the scoreline left plenty of scope for Northwich in the second half but they did not help their cause when a two-footed tackle saw them reduced to ten men. City failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority and could not add to their single goal. Northwich created several chances to equalise but City held on to record the win.
Solihull Moors v Worcester City - Saturday 13th November 2010
Probably the best team Solihull Moors have had since the merger of Solihull Borough and Moor Green held sway in a game of amazing symmetry in all bar the goal scoring. City had the best of the opening ten minutes and missed two good opportunities to take the lead. The bright opening soon faded away into a period of lacklustre play from City as the midfielders were forced to retreat to helpout a defence that was in danger of being overwhelmed by waves of white-shirted attackers. The Moors took the lead after City had given away a needless free kick on the edge of the area and in the centre of the goal. The well-struck kick was perfectly hit and the keeper had no chance of saving it. Solihull continued to dominate but failed to score. It should have proved their undoing as a defence splitting pass put Glover through on goal only for him to be hacked down by the last defender. It was an obvious penalty and a red card should have followed but amazingly the referee failed to send off the defender. Mark Danks hit the penalty well enough but the Moors keeper beat the ball away and the chance had gone.
City were under constant pressure for the first 30 minutes of the second half culminating in another penalty. This time it was the City keeper who was guilty of bringing down an attacker who was clean through on goal. Again a red card should have been shown but amazingly the card was only yellow. The penalty was hit well enough but Sandercombe parried it away, alas it fell kindly to a Solihull player who made no mistake.
City threw everything they had into attack and with Rob Elvins moving up looked a force to reckon with. There was a controversial incident that stirred memories of the infamous Kettering Town goal on 2nd March 1968. A beautifully flighted cross was held by the Solihull keeper but with a City player in close ball attendance he stepped backwards and appeared to most in the ground to have carried the ball into his own net. The referee ignored the incident and chose to play on. Finally the symmetry was complete when City gained a free kick in the same position as that from which Solihull had scored in the first half. Tom Thorley's free kick beat the wall and keeper but crashed back into play off the post to leave a final score of Moors 2 City 0.
Worcester City v Redditch United - Monday 8th November 2010
Former City player, Jordan Fitzpatrick struck a dramatic injury time goal to earn his side a draw after the home side had defended doggedly for almost half the game following the dismissal of Tom Evans for a reckless challenge. This was a typically feisty local derby with both sides giving good accounts of themselves. The lion's share of the chances fell to City in the first half. Simon Richman guilty of missing a sitter in the first minutes, shooting hopelessly wide when clean through the defence. City had several other good chances to add to the single goal lead given then by Mark Danks who shot home following a needlessly conceded free kick.
Soon after the start of the second half City were reduced to ten men and Mark Danks was withdrawn from the play in favour of Gary Walker. The referee handed Redditch a golden opportunity to draw level when he bought the softest of penalty shouts with only minutes remaining, but justice was done when the spot kick was driven high and wide, nearly finishing up in the canal.
With only seconds remaining of the four stoppage minutes Jordan Fitzpatrick found space on the edge of the area to hit a deserved equaliser for the visitors before 808 spectators.
Comment - Red Card or Not?
The sending-off of the City keeper last Saturday made a profound difference to the future course of the game and was therefore an incident that has proven controversial, more so after viewing the video footage of the game taken by ITV Anglia. Earlier this season (see Gainsborough below) there was a similar incident at St George's Lane where a goalkeeper has strayed outside the penalty area whilst collecting a through ball. That incident, which did not deny an obvious goalscoring opportunity, was not deemed to deserve even the award of a free kick, the referee perhaps deeming it to be accidental and the result of a greasy playing surface.
The video footage of the incident at Corby clearly shows (as related below without the benefit of a video replay) that it was simply a hopeful ball upfield that was way in front of the nearest attacker who himself was being marked by a City defender. Therefore there is no reason to think that an "obvious goal scoring opportunity" has been denied as required by the Rules if a player is to be sent off. A mere technical offence has occurred of no more concern than being flagged offside. As this was the player's first offence in the match there would be no reason to issue a yellow card let alone a red. A free kick should have sufficed.
Corby Town v Worcester City - Saturday 9th October 2010
City crashed out of this season's FA Cup in dramatic fashion at perhaps the worst ground I have ever visited. The pitch, if that is what one could call the long grass that was called the playing surface is surrounded by a full size running track with the only spectator facility being a tiny stand on part of one side of the ground.
The playing surface was absolutely terrible and a total disgrace to have to play on - indeed it was virtually impossible for either team to play anything like soccer on it. The first half played out in near total silence saw only one worthwhile effort on goal and that gave Corby a deserved lead.
Things did not improve in the second half either with neither side able to make any impression, being prevented from playing football by the state of the pitch. Things only livened up after the City keeper was sent off when he accidently strayed outside his area when gathering a hopeful through ball. City had to sacrifice Neil Cartwright to make way for the substitute keeper. In typical fashion Corby blasted the free kick at least 20 yards over the bar. City threw on Dan Polan and Mark McGregor for Danks and Glover and went on the attack to seek the equaliser leaving huge gaps at the back. Corby were then presented with three open goals but the poor surface contributed to all three being missed. Finally City mounted a worthwhile attack and gained a penalty. Marc McGregor sent the visiting fans into temporary heaven but celebrations were short lived as Corby went straight to the other end and scored with a 30yard screamer to leave a final score of Corby 2 City 1.
The sooner Corby leave this joke of a stadium, for their new home a few yards away and nearly complete, the better.
Worcester City v Nuneaton Town - Saturday 5th September 2010
This highly entertaining first ever meeting between these two teams was spoiled by one of those incidents that all sides regret the moment they get a chance to reflect on events. It happened with the scores level at 2-2 mid-way through the second half. Tom Thornley won the ball with a fair tackle but the referee thought it was a foul and the Nuneaton player reacted with hostile intent, Graham Ward intervened as a melee developed and the referee was manhandled out of the way. When the smoke cleared a Nuneaton player lay flat out on the ground apparently seriously injured. Both linesmen intervened and it was clear that nobody knew what had really happened but nevertheless Graham Ward was shown a straight red card. The Nuneaton player got to his feet and walked off theatrically rehearsing the now all too familiar 'Solihull Moors limp' as he went. Needless to say he re-joined the game and was roundly booed off at full time by which time, of course, the limp had vanished. The referee obviously realised he had made a mistake as he never again gave a decision against the City nor allowed Nuneaton to get near the City goal. In fact City's players reacted in just the right way to the injustice and launched a series of lightning quick attacks that narrowly failed to bring them the winning goal. The sending-off incident and several stoppages of play should have seen perhaps five minutes stoppage time but obviously not wishing to compound his error by giving Nuneaton any chance to sneak a winner he blew for full time once the regulation 45 minutes had been played.
Earlier it had been the visitors who had taken the lead after a mistimed tackle in midfield had left the right flank exposed and Nuneaton capitalised with a well worked goal. City stormed into attack after the break and the persistence of Matt Birley paid dividends as he outpaced the defence and slid the ball beneath the advancing keeper. Nuneaton retook the lead after several City players missed vital tackles and two attackers were left unmarked with a simple tap-in goal. The Nuneaton players then embarked on a distinctly naff goal-celebration in front of the main stands. They perhaps should have put as much enthusiasm into their defending as Mark Danks was given the freedom of St George's Lane to plant a long range shot into the roof of the net.
A point a piece was a fair enough result but the inevitable three match ban that will follow has somewhat soured the afternoon.
Worcester City v Solihull Moors - Monday 30th November 2010
A combination of bad luck, desperate defending, fake injuries, time-wasting and perhaps the worst referee ever to officiate at this level conspired to end City's four match unbeaten run. The first half belonged firmly to the visitors who won no less than nine corners to City's three and they took the lead on 33 minutes after the City defence had been split apart. That they had eleven men on the field at half time was down entirely to the referee's failure to punish an awful two-footed tackle mid way through the half. Amazingly there was another similar incident in the second half but again the only decision made was a free kick to City. Four times Solihull players collapsed theatrically clutching their faces and slowly rose to their feet being limping off and re-joining the fray apparently unaffected by their ordeal. The time wasting was laughable but how can it be indicated that there is 5 minutes added time when play is stopped as yet another fake injured player is lying flat out on the ground? Only one card was issued for time-wasting and another for not retreating at a free kick . The referee would do well to reflect carefully on his future before again considering putting on his football balls. City had plenty of chances to equalise but the woodwork and some breathtaking saves kept the visitors goal intact. If City had perhaps rode their luck earlier in this season things certainly evened themselves out today. The final score being City 0 Solihull Borough 1.
Stafford Rangers v Worcester City - Saturday 28th August 2010
City extended their unbeaten run to four games as they returned from Marston Road with a well deserved point in a 1-1 draw against Stafford Rangers. It is always difficult to get a result in Stafford but the hosts started the game in very sluggish fashion and handed the early advantage to City who were on top in a one-sided first half. City took the lead in the 14th minute. Stafford conceded a quite unnecessary free kick deep in their own half of the field and compounded the error by volleying the ball away long after the free kick had been awarded. The free kick was cleared away as far as the edge of the penalty area where Matt Birley drove a low shot through a forest of legs into the net. It looked like two shortly afterwards but the goal was disallowed in a marginal offside verdict.
The second half was a more even contest as Stafford stepped up a gear and also equalised from a free kick. This one was deep in their own half but the wind-assisted free kick flew into the City box and the ball was driven into the net from close range. City's defence with Mark Clyde and Tom Evans in the centre looked a lot more solid than previously this season. Even so it needed two superb saves from the City keeper to ensure that the game ended as a draw.
The drive home was tempered by the news from St George's Lane that former City player Rapinder Gill has been injured in a game against Weymouth. The Weymouth team coach was still at the Lane when the supporters bus returned from Stafford as the injury to Rapinder had held the game up for nearly 30 minutes.
Worcester City v Hinckley United - Monday 23rd August 2010
City moved into the top five in the league with a quite amazing win with a second half goal in one of the most one-sided 45 minutes ever seen at St George's Lane. City started the game in exhilarating fashion with Danny Glover bursting clear down the right before finding Mark Danks who made no mistake from 12 yards. The lead was short-lived as the City defence evaporated and the City keeper rooted to the spot as he was beaten with a cool strike from 20 yards. It was a thrill a minute as City retook the lead almost immediately when Danks fed Matt Burley who scored with a neat ground shot. City had chances to increase their lead but found themselves pegged back right on half time. Again City were asleep at a left wing free kick as Hinckley equalised with a simple header.
The second half was amazing and left the 746 fans rubbing their eyes in disbelief as City stole the points with their only real effort on goal or off it in the whole of the half. Worse still for Hinckley was that the visitors missed no less then five simple chances to score. Two were wide of open goals - one blasted over the top from four yards and the other nearer the corner flag than the goal. Tim Sandercombe made three superb saves when he shouldn't really have stood an earthly chances of seeing the ball. City's one and only attack produced the winning goal. With time running out, City won a free kick on the Hinckley right. Mark Clyde's pin point cross was met by Simon Richman and his bullet header was unstoppable. The final score was City 3 Hinckley 2.
Worcester City v Gainsborough Trinity - Saturday 14th August 2010
City dominated for nearly three quarters of the opening game of the season but ultimately slipped to a narrow defeat against typically robust visitors from the North. City got off to the worst possible start as early as the second minute. Mark Clyde lost possession and the next City player to get near the ball was picking it out of the net as the visitors swept down an exposed right flank and the cross that followed was easily headed home. Gainsborough had chances to increase their lead as City were rocked back into defence. It was no surprise when a low shot from the edge of the box saw City two down. However the visitors never again got a sight of the City goal as the City settled to their task of reducing the arrears. City too can cross a ball and the arrears were halved with a fine header from Neil Cartwright. The rest of the game saw City in total control and playing some superb football - a lot of it stopped by typically robust fouls that saw four of the visiting team's players go into the referee's book. At times City were playing against not just the opposition and the elements but also officials up to the normal standard at this level. It is perhaps no wonder that official's get some much abuse when, barely twenty yards away from Referee and Linesman, the visitor's keeper carried the ball at least a yard outside his area when he advanced to block a City attack. An obvious foul but nothing was given. City huffed and puffed and produced some fine football at times but it was all to no avail. So City slipped to a 1-2 defeat but they were plenty of reasons to think that City are capable of holding their own in the league.
Evesham United v Worcester City (Friendly) - Saturday 7th August 2010
First impressions after this final pre-season friendly is that not only do City have a much stronger starting lineup than for several seasons but that the bench is also looking much better. Of course friendly games are one thing and next week might show things in a different light. With so many new players in the squad it will take time for things to function properly.
There were enough good signs today though to give hope for the season to come. City started brightly and Danny Glover displayed a cool set of nerves as he picked his spot from just inside the box to give City the lead. Perhaps one of the things that needs to be worked on is the left side of the defence which was all at sea as Evesham equalised after 15 minutes. City were well on top but did not add to the score before half time.
The second half saw wholesale changes by both sides but it was City who benefited most as they overwhelmed a workmanlike but limited Evesham team. Neil Cartwright, a new signing from Corby Town, played well as a second half substitute and restored City's lead which was further enhanced by a Mark Danks header in the closing minutes.
The final score was Evesham United 1 City 3 before a crowd of 278.
BURNLEY PROGRAMME
Finally a word of warning to City or Burnley Programme buyers. There was never a programme or team sheet for the City v Burnley friendly in July 1989. There are "fake" ones in circulation that were made up by somebody typing the teams onto a sheet of headed paper. It is certainly a curiously but is not a genuine team sheet which is easy to replicate with a copier.
Worcester City v AFC Liverpool (Friendly) - Saturday 31st July 2010
Paul Moore brought his AFC Liverpool team back to St George's Lane for this friendly after previously visiting in 2009.
City started with the probable first team starting line up and rapidly took the lead through a Marc McGregor header at a corner. City's lead was short-lived as poor defending handed Andrew McCoy a chance to score with a fine low shot into the corner of the net. The rest of the first half saw City generally on top but there were no further goals.
The introduction of former Port Vale player Simon Richman and new signing Danny Glover saw City step up a gear with the latter scoring twice and hitting the inside of the post. Little was seen of Liverpool as their players tired in the heat. Francis Berry though wasted a simple chance amazing putting the ball wide of an open net from eight yards out. Dan Polan added a fourth as time ran out to leave a final score of City 4 Liverpool 1 before 288 spectators.
City v Malvern Town (Friendly) - Saturday 24th July 2010
City ran riot against very weak opposition at Langland Avenue as their build-up to the new season continued. Carl Heeley, the City Manager, turned out a very experimental line-up in the first half but even so they were far too strong for a poor Malvern side. Matt Birley scored the first for City before woeful defending handed Malvern an unlikely equaliser. City scored again before half time and then ran away with the game in the second half as more experienced players took to the field. Marc McGregor and Rob Elvins scored with headers whilst Mark Danks with a neat low shot into the corner and Tom Thorley added to the tally. Malvern scored a second from the penalty spot but in the end their only answer to City's skill and speed was to resort to some brutal and unlawful tackles. By the end the inept referee had lost control and should have sent off two if not three of Town's third rate defenders. He finally called time early with Mark Danks collapsed in a heap near the penalty spot following another crude lunge.
Archived 16/8/2011; updated 5/9/2013