Home Defeat For U13's

Worcester City U13's entertained their local rivals Halesowen in the JPL at a very wet and windy Perdiswell and were unlucky to come away with out some reward

Q1
Defending into a strong wind City knew it was going to be a tough game against a strong Halesowen side but the boys rose to the occasion and put in a tremendous team effort in their best performance this season. Both teams got the ball down early and played some neat football. The midfield battles were endless but the home teams quartet of Adam Willis, Kyle Clayton, Jay Bennet and Jake Brookes soon stamped their authority on the opposition and took control. Bennet was impressive with some strong early tackles and breaking up any visitors link ups. The visitors had an early chance to open the scoring with their striker bearing down on Zac Watkins in the home goal but he was denied a shooting chance with a superbly timed tackle by Henry Guy. Guy and Josh Sanders were dominate in the centre of defence and Joe layland and Fin Mcglen were also in control out wide against the visitors pacey wingers. Although City were on top and pressing well when not on the ball it was proving difficult to break down the visitors well organised, strong defence. Hayden Russell and Ash Doyle were linking well up front and a link up between these two and Brookes resulted in a difficult chance for Willis who managed to get his shot off but it failed to test the visitors keeper and the quarter ended 0-0

Q2
City started the second quarter in the same vein controlling the early exchanges and working hard when not in possession pressing the visitors high up the pitch and not allowing them to play out from the back. One such press by the hard working Doyle and Brookes resulted in a chance after they won the ball back and played in Clayton but his effort on goal just went wide. The visitors were trying hard to gain some momentum but with both defences performing superbly chances for either team were few and far between but Halesowen should have taken the lead towards the end of the quarter as their inform striker found himself in the clear but he shot wide. Honours still even at the half way stage

Q3
The third quarter continued as the previous two with both defences in control. Josh Francis replaced Brookes and slotted in at the centre of the defence and Guy pushed into midfield. Both eased into the game with Francis looking dominant against any visitors attacks. With the game opening up a little City had a great chance to take a deserved lead after Doyle was fouled down the left just out side the box. Adam Willis struck the resulting free kick superbly but unfortunately it struck the bar with the visitors keeper stranded and the rebound was scrambled clear. City suffered a blow as the quarter came to an end loosing the influential Clayton through injury as the game remained in stalemate

Q4
Both teams looked to force a result in the last quarter but again the defences were holding out and it was going to take either a mistake or something special to break the deadlock. Unfortunately it was the visitors that managed the break through in the 62nd minute. A city clearance was blocked and when the ball fell to the Halesowen winger a neat move and two quick passes found Harrison Dodd in the clear at the far post and he slotted home past Louis Hudson in the home goal. It was hard on the City boys who had been superb but to their credit they continued to look for a way back into the game with Chester Hooper, Rafe Green and Doyle combining but the end result was once again blocked by the excellent visitors defence lead by the impressive Alex Thompson. With the game now open and both teams tiring Halesowen doubled their lead from a corner which was unchallenged allowing William Cole to volley home in the 75th minute to complete the scoring

A great game between two very good sides played in difficult conditions. Although the result was hard on the City boys, they all put in a tremendous amount of work and effort and deserved something from the game

Awards

Gold - Jay Bennet
Silver - Hayden Russell
Bronze - Josh Sanders