2012/13
City v Chester - Saturday 27th April 2013
City's final game at St George's Lane ended in a narrow defeat against the league champions. Chester scored with a good header early in the game and then defended stoutly for the remainder of the game as City tried their best to send the bumper sell-out crowd home with a slightly less than heavy heart. A sad day all round.
City v Hinckley United - Saturday 13th April 2013
As the season winds down with only the end of season (and indeed the end of the ground) rituals to come this was a time for nostalgia and reflection. The game itself was a fairly bloodless spectacle and as easy a win as any ever seen at the ground. It really was a question of men verses boys as City rarely needed to break into a sweat to win with ease. Goals from Ethan Moore and Mike Symons in the first half and a neat header from Matt Breeze in the second said it all. Hinckley scored from a free kick with just about the last kick of the game was well and truly over.
Vauxhall Motors v City - Saturday 9th March 2013
Injury hit City brought in Ashley Sammons for only his second start of the season and he was one of the better performers as another miserable afternoon saw City return home with no points after a narrow defeat. To make matters worse was the sad sight of City's Ellis Deeney being taken off to hospital with a serious ankle injury after coming off worse in a crunching collision near the half way line. It was the sort of challenge that the authorities have sought to remove from the game but sadly still seems a feature of Saturday afternoon's. Vauxhall adopted their usual tactic of defending in depth and breaking with speed and once City had worked this out the defence had a very quiet afternoon. Indeed City's goalkeeper made not one save in the second half but was beaten by a cruel deflection after a tame shot that seemed headed well over the bar took a cruel deflection to give the home side an undeserved lead. For the last thirty minutes City attacked non-stop but a woeful lack of shooting meant the good approach work was wasted and City again came away pointless.
FC Halifax v Worcester City - Saturday 2nd March 2013
The 0-5 scoreline says all you need to know about this embarrassing defeat at the Shay Stadium. Despite the bright sunshine the Shay Stadium remains a bleak and barren place like some remnant of cold-war austerity. Half-completed and condemned stands border the ground and the half still open more than adequate to accommodate the crowd. The almost total lack of food in what laughingly passes as the (overpriced) burger bar says all you need to know about this council-owned monstrosity.
The game itself was instantly forgettable. Once the referee had failed to send off a Halifax defender for an off-the-ball stamp on Danny Edwards's ankle the writing was only the wall. A robust and illegal tackle saw Mike Symonds carried off the field soon after and with Stuart Whitehead looking to be carrying a knock as well City did well to keep the score down to three before two late goals flattered the hosts.
Worcester City v Guiseley - Saturday 23rd February 2013
When Guiseley comes visiting you know exactly what to expect from their seasoned bunch of professionals. You only hope that you get one of the few quality referees in the league who knows how to control the worst excesses of their approach to the game. Sadly, as on so many other occasions, the referee was not of the required quality, preferring to dish out final warning lectures when yellow cards should be administered. The number of times Guiseley players carried the ball away when City had been awarded a free kick or throw in was almost unbelievable. He even refused to act when a player refused to retreat ten yards at a free kick. With a manager straight from the Alex Ferguson School of Charm on the bench, and often off it, berating the referee, you know it will be a difficult afternoon. This is a shame as they are without doubt a talented outfit, if perhaps being the weakest of the play-off contenders.
Guiseley won the game with a flowing move down the left wing with only three minutes of the game remaining. It was a good goal but by this time City should have held the lead. Rob Elvins stabbed a shot wide of an open goal. Symonds had a shot scrape the outside of a post and Glover narrowly missed when well placed. Finally Michael Taylor was introduced and with his only touch of the ball he shot against a post with the last attack of the game to leave a final score of City 0 Guiseley 1.
Worcester City v Solihull Motors - Monday 11th February 2013
It wasn't so much "Fortress St George's Lane" as open house as Worcester handed the visitors three points. Worcester's defending was comical and Solihull took full advantage to score three goals. The only bright spot in an otherwise dismal performance was another goal for the ever-willing Michael Taylor. By this time Solihull were two goals to the good through Birch and English and when the City defence open up wide apart at the start of the second half it was game over.
Solihull has a remarkable record at the Lane and this win continues that trend, with a final score of City 1 Solihull 3.
Worcester City v Vauxhall Motors - Saturday 2nd February 2013
City had to fight very hard to earn a point from this game, playing no less than three "Get out of Jail" cards in the process. The visitors who are enjoying one of their best ever seasons tormented the Worcester defence during a first half played almost entirely in the City half of the field. The Motormen took the lead with a fine volley from the edge of the area and looked neat and tidy in their play as City failed to get a look in. Amazingly and totally against the run of play City scored with a rare breakaway. A hopeful ball through the middle split the visitors defence and a moment's hesitation between the defenders was all Danny Glover needed to sprint onto the ball and beat the keeper with a left foot shot. It was a rare moment of light in an otherwise gloomy half for City.
City's second lucky break came early in the second half when a poorly struck penalty was saved by City keeper Glyn Thompson. It should have been the wake-up call City needed to bolster the defence but instead a diabolical headed back pass by Stuart Whitehead handed the lead back to Vauxhall.
City huffed and puffed without any real purpose until Rob Elvins exploited a rare hole in the defence before spotting Danny Glover, ten yards out and the striker made no mistake with a shot into the roof of the net for his second goal of the goal.
Although it was another two points lost at home it could so easily have been yet another pointless afternoon.
Worcester City v Histon - Saturday 26th January 2013
Enormous credit must go the ground staff and volunteers who laboured hard to ensure that this would be the only game in the division that did not fall victim the snowy conditions that have prevailed in England. Their efforts were not rewarded with the hoped for victory as Histon snatched an unlikely victory with a classic smash and grab raid.
The first half was a subdued affair for the home fans as they endured a wretched forty-five minutes that saw the visitors dominate possession and run up a two goal lead. The first came from the penalty spot as Deeney was adjusted to have used his hand unfairly to hinder a right wing cross and the second a spectacular effort from the edge of the area.
City brought on Michael Taylor and Matt Burley at the interval and they set about repairing the damage of the dismal showing in the first half. It took barely five minutes before City were level. Michael Taylor choosing the direct route to goal burst through the defence for the first and Danny Glover got the second after good teamwork from a Greg Mills free kick.
City piled forward and it seemed only a matter of time before the winner came. Bad luck, good keeping and some dismal work from the abysmal referee all played their part to keep the ball out of the Histon net. The Histon attacks faded away to nothing as they were forced into ever more desperate defending. Then in a rare venture into the City half Histon grabbed the winner. It was rough on City whose second half effort was worthy of all the points.
Worcester City v Altrincham - Saturday 12th January 2013
With the end of the loan spell of Hutchinson, City brought in Lee Ayres to fill the void which he did well as City's defence held rock solid against some of the best strikers in the league. Altrincham did break through on a few instances but when needed the keeper kept the score sheet clean. At the other end City had chances too but the visitors defence was also in fine form with the result that there were no goals in a close encounter, as the final countdown towards the end of soccer at the Lane continues unabated.
Colwyn Bay v Worcester City - Saturday 5th January 2013
The twenty-five or so City supporters who made the lengthy trip to North Wales were rewarded by as satisfying an away performance as any this season. Whilst some might say that City ought to win easily against a team struggling in the lower reaches of the division Colwyn Bay were a bit of an unknown quantity following their appointment of a new managerial team and changes to playing staff. As they had in their last two games City started brightly but were unable to get the advantage despite Glover hitting the net early on, only to be flagged up for offside.
Kyle Patterson was a live wire, always finding space despite the attentions of a strong defensive line and it was he who capped a fine spell of City pressure with a lovely goal. The ball pinged around the Colwyn Bay area until being played out to Patterson, in space on the left wing. He cut inside and unleased a fantastic curling shot that was never going anywhere than the far corner of the net. It was a goal fit to win any game and it was enough to give City a slender half time lead. Colwyn Bay, who had first use of a strong win had given a good account of themselves though, twice bringing good saves out of the City keeper.
As to be expected the home team came out strongly in the early part of the second half and City were forced into defensive mode. This time the defence looked rock solid and held firm in all departments.
A nervy end appeared in prospect until in another twist City settled the game in style. Mills was fouled on the left and from the resultant free kick the ball was floated deep to Mike Symonds whose header back across goal to the near post was headed home by Graham Hutchinson. The most memorable moment of the game followed soon after as Mike Symonds released Michael Taylor for his first touch since coming on as a substitute. Taylor's speed took him clear of most of the defenders. He cut inside, beat the final defender, and struck the ball into the net. The delight on his face was plain for all to see as he took the well-deserved accolades of his team players.
The City fans cheered the team through the last five minutes and were rewarded when Matt Gardner and Carl Heeley took the time to come behind the goal area to talk to them at the end of the game. A nice touch.
Gloucester City v Worcester City - Tuesday 1st January 2012
Whaddon Road, Cheltenham, the temporary home of Gloucester City, is rapidly prove to be a place to forget for Worcester fans as for the second year running supporters saw a display to forget. For the first and last thirty-five minutes of the game City held sway, scored two good goals, had two viable penalty claims waved aside and hit the post three times. That should have been enough to win any game but the ten minutes either side of half time were a nightmare for the City defence as they fell apart in alarming style, conceding a goal on the stroke of half time and three more shortly after the resumption.
It could have been very different if Worcester had converted some of the numerous chances created in the first thirty-five minutes. Glover has a one on one chance with the keeper and then curled a delightful shot against the post, Patterson blasted over when well placed and then Symonds hit the other post with the keeper beaten. Instead of City being four in front it was Gloucester who actually ran up that advantage. Some measure of the way things are not quite clicking for Worcester came at 0-2 when City created an easy scoring chance but instead of 1-2 it was 0-3 as Gloucester broke upfield in some style.
The introduction of Stuart Whitehead brought some sanity back to the proceedings as City reverted a 4-4-2 format instead of the 4-3-3 they started the game with.
Eventually Rob Elvins pulled one back with a deflected shot that went in off the bar. The decision to withdraw Mike Symonds was not greeted with enthusiasm by some of the more vociferous City supporters who felt Kyle Patterson should have gone off. But with Symonds still struggling with the injury he sustained on Boxing Day this was the right decision. Patterson, clearly struggling for match form, repaid the manager with his first goal for the club to set up a nervous finale that saw Tom Thorley blast a shot off the post. It just wasn't Worcester's day. The final score was Worcester 2 Gloucester 4.
Worcester City v Gloucester City - Wednesday 26th December 2012
The battle of the homeless teams went the way of the visitors courtesy of Worcester yet again giving away and then failing to defend a free kick on the edge of the area. Worcester persist in giving away such kicks and it keeps coming back to haunt them. In true though Worcester were never at their best and despite having most of the play they were unable to find a way through a Gloucester defence at the top of their game. City had plenty of shots on target but the visiting keeper was in superb form. The final score of a disappointing and damp Boxing Day was Worcester 0 Gloucester 1.
Worcester City v Bradford Park Avenue
City put behind them the disappointment of last week's defeat to Halifax by soundly beating another of the play-off candidates. Bradford Park Avenue were second best for most of the game as City turned their early domination into a lead - a rare event for City to score such in an early period of the game. In large measure City's lead was down to a howler of an error by the visiting keeper who raced out of goal to try to collect a free kick only to see the ball sail past him well out of range. Greg Mills's free kick was sublimely struck and Jacob Rowe gleefully headed into the unguarded net.
Early in the second half Bradford were reduced to ten men when a quickly-taken free kick hit a player who had refused to retreat the necessary ten yards. As the player was already on a yellow card it was a stupid error to make. For a period Bradford made light of the deficit in players as they took the game to City. City though were always in control of proceedings and when a sublime pass from Danny Glover to Greg Mills saw City double their lead midway through the second half it was game over. The game ended on a sour note for Bradford as they ended with only nine players after their captain was shown as straight red card for a horror tackle on Greg Mills that forced the City player to the sidelines and left him nursing a badly bruised ankle.
With plenty of football to come in the next two weeks this win provides the ideal tonic for City as they seek to renew their challenge for a play-off place.
Worcester City v Halifax - Saturday 8th December 2012
City just failed to earn points against the league's big spenders as Gareth Seddon scored the only goal of the game with a header ten minutes from time. The visitors arrived at the ground with half an hour to spare before the scheduled kick off but needed a further 20 minutes before the game could start. When it did the first half belonged firmly to City with Greg Mills and Mike Symons missing good chances. Little was seen of the Halifax attack as City's defence was on top form.
The second half was mostly fought in midfield with neither side able to break down high quality defences. The referee had a very difficult task in deciding how many of the theatrical dives to the ground by players of both sides were actually caused by fouls. Certainly more than a few players hit the ground after minimal contact. Fittingly the referee had a large part in the only goal of the game which came with the partizan home ground still debating why City did not gain a free kick for what looked an obvious foul in midfield. Instead the Halifax player was allowed to gain possession leading to another free kick, but this time to the visitors. Seddon rose to head home the winner.
Worcester City v Workington - Saturday 17th November 2012
After both teams experienced early exits from the FA Trophy last week, this was a game where they both had something to prove. City are going through a bad patch of home form so a result, any result, was needed. Workington were always going to prove hard to beat as their victory at the Lane in April proved, and City were without Rowe, Glover and Taylor through injury with Deeney suspended and Shabir on international duties.
Not surprising City packed the midfield and this proved to be a very effective strategy. City's slick and smooth passing style soon gained them an advantage as Workington's attempts to match it got bogged down in midfield. City took the lead in fine style. Tyler Weir played a neat 1-2 with Matt Breeze that saw the former burst clear of the defence to score with a fine shot.
City's ranks were further depleted when Stuart Whitehead was carried off with a knee injury and from then on it was Workington who were in the ascendency. In the second half the visitors adopted a more direct approach and this saw them gain a well deserved equaliser when a long ball evaded the City defender's and was drilled home in fine style.
There was much effort from both sides but neither could conjure a winner to leave a final score of 1-1.
FA Trophy
Worcester City v Altincham - Saturday 10th November 2012
The last ever cup game at St Georges Lane proved to a non event as far as City fans were concerned as a compact and neat Altrincham outfit put the City defence through a torrid afternoon. The game was all over in one breathtaking burst of goal scoring in the first half as the visitors swept seamlessly into a three goal lead. City's defending was comical and the attack barely any better.
Things got no better in the second half as City failed to make any impression on the visitors defence.
Hinckley United v Worcester City - Saturday 3rd November 2012
Hinckley United's youthful team provided more than enough evidence in the first half an hour of this game to suggest that with the addition of a couple of experienced players they will again be winning games, but in the meantime there seems no end in sight to their long run of defeats with this being their second five-goal beating inside a week.
Until Mike Symons blasted City into the lead there was little to choose between the teams but once City took the lead the game was all over in a blink of an eye as Tom Thorley's free kick and a fine finish from Charlie Reece put the game beyond reach.
City's second half approach was to consolidate their position and ensure there was no way back for the home team. Late in the game the introduction of Danny Edwards brought further goals for the City as Edwards laid the ball on for Elvins to head No.4 and Edwards himself scored the last with a fine strike.
A welcome boost to the goal difference saw City move up to fourth in the table.
Worcester City v Brackley - Monday 30th October 2012
High-spending Brackley brought their team of very experienced former Conference players to the Lane for this top of the table clash. Brackley's team includes a fair number of former Kettering Town and Rushden & Diamonds players as they have taken over the role of being Northamptonshire's premier club.
A good crowd of over 1,000 witnessed a titanic battle between two first class teams. Brackley rely for their success on a strategy of swiftly switching from defence to attack and this gave them the lead at the interval when a lovely run down the right saw the resultant cross swept into the net from close range. These swift breaks apart City's defence was comfortable and the keeper rarely troubled.
City equalised in bizarre fashion early in the second half when Greg Mills drove a corner kick low into the near post where the Brackley keeper turned the ball into his own net. It was the signal for City's methodical and cultured work to begin to dominate the game. Brackley's defensive tactics became a ragged mixture of calm composure, stupid fouls and desperation. It seemed as though City must surely get the winner but another quick attack ended with a goal for Brackley, very much against the run of play.
The game was not without its humorous minutes with players slipping and sliding on a greasy surface but capped by Ryan Austin's theatrical injury received following the lightest of touches by Michael Taylor. Even the Brackley players and their vociferous bench (minus their loud-mouth manager who had earlier been banished to the stands) could not believe what they were witnessing. On-loan Austin, already on a yellow card for blatant timewasting, was soon on his feet once he realised the referee, who had a fine game, was not buying anything.
Sadly City's pressure failed to bring the equaliser and Brackley left the Lane with a hard earned three points.
Worcester City v Stalybridge Celtic - Saturday 13th October 2012
City fans left St George's Lane scratching their heads as to how the home team contrived to lose a game that they dominated from start to finish. City created enough chances to have won by a cricket score but their failure to convert more than just the Danny Glover tap in during the first half came back to haunt them in a second half marred by bizarre decisions by the referee. Mostly these went again City none more so than the game changing decision to award Celtic a penalty for a nothing challenge by Lee Ayres who received a red card for his troubles. Despite being down to ten men City continued to dominate play but failed to convert any of a host of good chances. They were hit by a soft goal three minutes from time when they failed to defend a corner. To make matters worse the referee sent off Rob Elvins and evened it up by later sending off a Celtic player. It was a strange second second half performance by a referee who had done well in the first half.
Worcester City v Weston super Mare - Monday 8th October 2012
A superb headed goal by striker Mike Symons had older supporters reminiscing about the glory days of Kevin Tudor and Malcolm Phelps as there were echoes of the 1970s about the quality of the strike. If this goal proves to be the last ever FA Cup goal scored at St George's Lane it will go down in the annals as one of the best. It was good enough to settle the game in favour of the home side and deservedly dump an insipid Weston out of the cup.
Weston persisted with the same ultra-defensive approach as in the first game, often playing the ball back to their goalkeeper from the half way line or beyond. If there was some grand design behind it then perhaps it had some merit but all too often it ended with an aimless long ball upfield to nobody in particular.
After a bright start had briefly threatened the City goal Weston lost their was way and were always second best. Twice the woodwork came to their rescue. The first time when the inspired Greg Mills fired in a shot from long range and later when Irish in the Weston goal palmed Breeze's close range header onto the bar. Irish, in the Weston goal, had a much better game than on Saturday and also did not repeat his "dying swan" antics of the first game. He made crucial saves to keep his team's hopes alive but was powerless when Symons powered in a header from another lovely Greg Mills corner.
A crowd of over 1,000 went home happy to contemplate the long trip to Kent to play Bromley in the next round.
Weston super Mare v Worcester City - Saturday 6th October 2012
A stunning 79th minute long range shot from Matt Breeze ensured that this feisty FA Cup Third Qualifying Round tie ended all square.
This was a game mired in controversy caused largely by an official way out of his depth, aided by equally inept Linesmen.
Things went wrong for City early on when a Weston attack ended with the ball going out of play for a clear goal kick. As most of the players moved back towards the half way line, quick thinking Weston players spotted that a corner had been awarded and with City's defence in disarray the ball was swiftly put into play and struck into the net from 20 yards.
It got worse for City as Charlie Reece set off after the ball down the left wing. A poor decision by the Weston keeper saw him rush well out of goal to attempt a clearance. Reece looked like he would make the keeper pay for his error when the keeper threw himself in front of the ball and tangled with Reece before clattering into the boundary fence. Amazingly the referee showed a red card to a stunned Reece and City were down to ten men.
City though fought back hard and the inept referee produced a quite unnecessary flurry of yellow cards, ending only after he had reduced Weston to ten men after showing a yellow card to a player already booked. From the sidelines it appeared that no offence had occurred to even justify a free kick let alone a booking.
The first part of the second half belonged firmly to the home side who might easily have doubled their lead had the post not come to City's aid. Slowly City fought their way into the game and, but for the officials, would surely have equalised.
Mike Symonds stormed into the box and was clattered to the ground by the Weston keeper. It looked an obvious penalty but the referee saw no offence. Not so the linesman who put his flag up immediately. After discussion the Weston keeper was yellow-carded but instead of a penalty City were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. A truly puzzling decision.
Finally though City got their just reward with Matt Breeze's stunning shot. City suffered their usual injury time scare but Matt Sargeant was up to the job turning a goal bound shot onto the crossbar and away to safety to leave a final score of Weston 1 City 1.
Worcester City v Harrogate - Saturday 29th September 2012
For the third time in nine league games City handed their opponents an injury time goal and in the process have deprived themselves of two more league points. Harrogate were the recipients of the latest handout as City, sitting on a two to one lead, played the ball back to their own goal from deep within the visitors half of the field with the inevitable result that it ended up in the City net. City fans left the ground shaking their heads in disbelief.
To be fair, on the overall balance of play, a point was the very least that Harrogate deserved as City were outplayed in just about every aspect of the game. The game was fairly even until Harrogate's captain turned a cross into his own game after 10 minutes. From then on the only team playing football was Harrogate who equalised soon after and should have put the game well out of City's reach before Danny Glover's late header, City's only effort on target in the whole game, knocked the stuffing out of them.
The chances of them creating an equaliser with so little time were next to nil, until City took pity on them and handed them a point.
Gornal Athletic v Worcester City - Saturday 22nd September 2012
Worcester City's tricky visit to Gornal Athletic proved to be no walk in the park as the lower graded team stretched City's defence to the limits in an exacting first half.
Whilst Gornal were no pushovers a ruthless City attack exploited fully a defence playing far too square against attackers of the calibre of Michael Taylor, Danny Glover and Mike Symons. Each of City's main strikers created golden chances only to fluff their lines on a hard bumpy pitch. However when Taylor broke through for the second time his touch was perfect and left clear with only the keeper to beat there was nowhere the ball was going other than like a rocket into the net.
It had been a difficult first half for City but that goal settled the nerves of players and fans alike. The second half was one-way traffic down the hill towards the Gornal goal. Taylor provided Mike Symons with an easy headed goal. Neither the referee or his assistant saw any offence despite furious protests from the home team. After the second goal City took full control and doubled their advantage with goals from Jacob Rowe and Charlie Reece.
After this performance City can look forward to the third round with a air of confidence.
Gainsborough Trinity v Worcester City - Saturday 8th September 2012
City's unbeaten start to the season came to an inglorious end with a below par performance against determined opponents on a sun drenched afternoon at Gainsborough. City were never really in the game, often second to the ball and rarely showing anything of attacking potential. In true the game should have been all over long before Darren Stamp scrambled home a winner five minutes from time. Indeed the nearest City came to getting a goal was a comical clearance by a home defender that flew back past a startled keeper and behind for a corner, missing the goal by barely six inches.
The only consolation for City is that there is now some breathing time as the pace of playing two games per week has come to an end.
Worcester City v Colwyn Bay - Saturday 1st September 2012
City took their unbeaten start to the season into a potentially tricky home fixture against Colwyn Bay, who like Corby two weeks previously, had won at St George's Lane last season.
As a spectator attraction the game was all but over inside the first twenty-five minutes as indiscipline caused the Colwyn Bay defence to implode. The visitors had looked good for the first part of the game but as City found their attacking prowess the visitors defenders were getting caught too square and so resort was made to some crude fouls. It is rarely a good idea to concede free kick's just outside your own penalty area but when the other team has as good a striker of a dead ball as Tom Thorley the result is inevitable. Colwyn Bay placed far too many players in their defensive wall to make it all but impossible for debutante visiting keeper Dominic Comrie to see the ball. By the time he did all he could do was to help it into the net. The only other contribution the visiting keeper made to the game was to haul down Danny Glover after City's striker had sprung the offside trap, and before he could tap the ball into the empty net. An obvious red card and with no other keeper on the bench the gloves were handed to a midfielder. Glover scored with ease and that really was the last moment of any consequence in the rest of the game, apart for a late second yellow card to winger Greg Mills for a quite pointless clumsy tackle.
City move to eleven points from five games and remain in fourth place.
Worcester City v Corby Town - Saturday 25th August 2012
Corby feel the cold steel
Corby may be a place founded on steel but there was nothing solid about its football as City's all-out attack destroyed the visitors in the space of 30 crazy second half minutes. City were already leading the game through Shabir's first ever goal for the club which came from a well directed free kick taken by Gary Mills on the left wing. Shabir was first to the ball and his powerful header was deflected inside the near post. Corby's attack looked good at times but despite pretty approach work there was little to suggest that the visitors would get their first goal of the season.
It was in the second half that City's clinical passing tore large hole in the Corby defence. The goal feast started when Mike Symons finally found some room to cut into the box and was hacked to the ground by a clumsy challenge from behind. It was an obvious penalty that Danny Glover drilled high into the net. With a little rain making the surface tricky City took full advantage of hesitation in the defence as Glover skipped clear to beat the Corby keeper with a powerful shot. City seemed to lose concentration for a few seconds and this was all it took for Corby to pull a goal back. City brought on super-sub Michael Taylor and with his first contribution to the game he scored with a fine shot after Mike Symons had scored his fourth of the season. It could easily have been more as both Danny Glover and Charlie Reece saw shots rebound back from the post and Tyler Weir burst through only to waste a simple chance with an extravagant shot that was high over the bar. This left a final score of City 5 Corby 1 and leaves City in fourth place in the table after three games.
Worcester City v Bishops Stortford - Monday 20th August 2012
City aim for the summit
In years to come the historians will be able to look back and say that in their last ever season at St George's Lane Worcester City sat proudly on top of the Conference North table after this stunning win against a lively Bishops Stortford side.
City showed no signs of tiredness after their marathon effort on Saturday, on the wide expansive pitch at Bradford, as they tore into the visitors from the start.
City should have taken the lead as they dominated proceedings only to find the visiting goalkeeper and defence on top form. It was on the break that City were vulnerable and with the action flowing from one end to the other at breathtaking speed it was hard to find time to draw breath.
Both goalkeepers were in constant action with a string of saves and when they were beaten defenders were on hand to clear the ball off the line. City just held the edge over the balance of the first half action and deserved fully their narrow lead which came when the hard-working Mike Symons struck a lovely dipping volley into the top corner of the net, aided by a slight deflection that took the ball out of reach of the goalkeeper.
There was doubting the ability of the visitors as they made super-human efforts to bring the game level, displaying an attitude for hard work and fair play that was a joy to watch. City's defence stood firm and the wall of defenders kept out everything that Bishops Stortford could throw at them.
City took their slender lead into the final few minutes until the City manager threw on super-sub Michael Taylor with ten minutes to go, taking off Danny Glover. The substitution had an immediate and decisive impact on the game as from a free kick on the left Taylor sent in a powerful header that the visiting goalkeeper was barely able to get keep out of goal. The ball went loose to the unmarked Michael Symons who had found some space on the edge of the six-yard box and he struck the ball into the net to spark wild celebrations amongst the City faithful.
With no other teams in the league plying on Monday unbeaten City moved to the top of the table.
Bradford PA v Worcester City - Saturday 18th August 2012
City let two goal lead slip
A spirited fightback from league newcomers Bradford Park Avenue saw the newly promoted team fight back from two goals behind to claim a point. Although City will be disappointed that they let slip a two goal lead there was no doubting that the result was a fair one. City started brightly and it came as no surprise when Mike Symons rifled home a shot from twelve years from a well taken corner.
The home team though were well in touch with the pace of the game and had several chances to equalise before falling further behind. Bradford failed to clear another City corner and Rob Elvins bundled the ball home from a couple of yards out.
As the game went on City were forced to defend deeper and deeper in their own half of the field and it was no surprise when the deficit was halved with another well-worked goal from a corner. The equaliser was a blockbuster from distance that gave the City keeper no chance to make a save.
The game ended sensationally when Matt Breeze was sent off for a reckless challenge but City held on to claim a valuable point.
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