Unbeaten run stretched by Worcester City Under 15s with Shield success

A late winner saw City emerge victorious from their trip to Stoke RTC and stretch their unbeaten run to nine matches .

This scrappy JPL Shield contest seemed destined to be heading to penalties until the closing moments when the hosts' keeper failed to gather the ball after a David Ferreira free-kick and Guy Collett was on hand to lash home.

Stoke probably had the best chances of the first-half - the first one with a replacement pink ball that was used whilst the match ball was being retrieved and behaved more like a beach ball as a speculative 30-yarder bounced and swerved off City's post.

Oli Sheahan produced a great double-block to foil the home side before they took the lead when the visitors were unable to deal with a corner.

However within minutes at the other end, City were level when a Sheahan cross into the Stoke box saw Jesse Asomugha and Archie Thurston outjump the keeper together and both claim the headed touch as the ball looped in.

The last opportunity of the half was a gilt-edged one for Stoke as their striker broke through one-on-one but completely miskicked with the goal at his mercy.

The second-half began with Asomugha nodding narrowly wide from a corner, whilst a Stoke player shanked a good chance wide at another corner. Sheahan combined with Asomugha once again but the striker was always stretching and unable to divert the ball on target.

As spot kicks loomed and the game became a bit niggly, the home side began to give away needless free-kicks. This was eventually their downfall as City proved that they did want it after all - their desire and persistence demonstrated as Collett fired home the winner to take them into the next round.