City make the short trip up the A449 on Wednesday evening as we take on Worcester Raiders in the first-ever Worcester derby, a game being dubbed ‘El-Sauce-ico’.

It’s a return to league action following the 8-1 demolition of AFC Bridgnorth on Saturday afternoon in the FA Vase. Worcester Raiders themselves were in Vase action away to Abbey Hulton Utd in Stoke-on-Trent, a match they won 2-1 with a late Isaac Cooper winner.

The fixture also looks set to break the Hellenic League record attendance, with up to 2,000 fans expected to be at Sixways, reports suggesting over half of those in the City end.

Three points currently separate the two sides in the league table after City’s loss to Westfields last midweek, a gap that would have been four points but for the abandonment of Raiders’ 1-1 draw with Tuffley Rovers on Tuesday, following a nasty injury to striker Jordan Murphy in added time. All at Worcester City send their best to Jordan on his recovery.

And there are plenty of familiar faces to both sides in the shape of former players. Former City men Joe Bates, Bailey Fuller and Jordan Stoddart are set to be involved for Raiders on Wednesday, whilst Jordan’s brother Logan will be involved alongside Jamie Insall, Zaq Hussain, Kyonn Evans and Kirk Layton, who have all previously played at Raiders.

And Manager Chris Cornes will also no doubt be looking forward to a reunion with Raiders’ Karl Gormley, as the pair coached together until Chris’ departure in 2021.

Chris himself with have enjoyed his side’s goal-scoring exploits over the weekend, with new signing Insall getting his first goals, four in total, for the club, and other impressive displays including four assists for substitute Kyonn Evans.

Striker Dylan Hart looks set to be an injury doubt after being forced off in the first half on Saturday, and Izak Reid is expected to miss out following his injury against Westfields. Cornes has been boosted though by the returns this week of first choice goalkeeper Haydn Whitcombe alongside Evans.

The game will take place at Sixways Stadium, Warriors Way, WR3 8ZE. Kick off is at 7.45pm and gates open at 6.15pm. Sixways staff will be conducting bag checks on arrival so please arrive in plenty of time to enter the stadium safely. Tickets for the game are priced at £8 for Adults, £5 Concessions (Over 65's), £4 Junior/U16's, and £22 for a Family Ticket (2x Adults & 2x Juniors). Tickets can be purchased via the link below and MUST be purchased online, in advance of the game. There is a booking fee of £1 per transaction.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/worcesterraiders

On site car parking is available to purchase online on a first come, first served basis, priced at £3. There is also a 50p per transaction charge on parking.

Sixways Stadium accepts both card and cash payments on the day and is a non-smoking stadium, including the use of e-cigarettes and vapes. Various options for food and drink will be available for supporters, but no food or drink can be taken into the stadium, only food and drink purchased on site can be consumed in the stadium.

Sixways Stadium operates a zero tolerance policy relating to verbal or physical abuse towards other supporters, staff and players, and will take every measure to enforce and uphold this policy.