WORCESTER RAIDERS 2-1 WEDNESFIELD FC: MATCH REPORT...

WASTEFUL WEDNESFIELD PUNISHED BY PERSISTENT RAIDERS…

WORCESTER RAIDERS 2-1 WEDNESFIELD FC

This was an entertaining encounter during which both teams had periods of offensive ascendancy but the visitors would rue some sloppy finishing by speedy forward Luke Yates, replacement Tyrone Atkinson and especially the solidly built Keith Thomas, whose best effort struck an upright during the latter stages of the match. The hosts had taken a surprise lead during the opening half, a goal which was soon equalised by Yates from a foot out, before the break. The visitors were dangerous on the right flank constantly, freeing Yates on a regular basis and the midfield artistry of Kieron Whittaker, skipper Josh Jones and also Scott Sandland had certainly given Wednesfield the upper hand. Sandland was carrying a knock too but some of his clinical passes were smart, although those attempting to finish off his assists flopped too often.

A TEAM-MATE DISPLAYS THE PARTS OF SKIPPER JOEL HOBBS' BODY WHICH WILL LATER SAVE HIS TEAM TWICE DURING THE SECOND-HALF...

The hosts looked lively at the beginning of the second period and netted from a left-side centre which saw slim and not tall ‘keeper Dylan Mandaracas challenged by an opponent aerially and Joey Haines rapped the loose ball into an empty net. The ‘Field players must have hoped for a foul to be awarded for the contact on their goalie but the referee wasn’t impressed. The visitors then contrived to miss several chances as they pinned back the Raiders almost until the end but really it seemed that home goalie Dan Stephens’ clash with substitute ‘Field forward Atkinson would finally offer a penalty lifeline to the guests with only moments left. Nothing was given, Stephens was helped from the field hurt and Worcester survived until the end. 

HEAVY JACKETS FOR SUMMER...

CRACKING BLUE COAT, THAT...
AND LOOK, WEDNESFIELD HAVE SPARE LEGS FOR USE WHEN PLAYERS TIRE...

An early right-side cross by Sam Carey for Worcester was glanced on by the head of the feisty Ant Smith but ‘Field had opened with more stealth and Whittaker’s command of the ball was impressive on occasions. Jones fed Thomas who nudged a one-two with the effervescent Sandland, only for Stephens to fall on the striker’s low shot. A foul by Zak Cox on the very effective Raider Nick Macpherson led to Ant Smith’s 28 yard free-kick soaring so high over the target that it looked more like the NFL Raiders’ place-kicker bagging an extra point but then when Dale Goddard fed a pass to Macpherson, the willing central striker made for the left byeline but his low pass was miscued by Matt Tyler as Jones challenged. A fine run on the right for ‘Field by Yates saw his low cross evade Stephens but left-sider Jon Cornfield could do no more beyond the far stick than slide and shoot into the side-netting. 

LOOKS MORE LIKE A WARRIORS' RUGBY BALL IS BEING CHALLENGED FOR...

The opening goal stemmed from some hard work by Lewis Butterworth on the right, who fed a pass inside to Jamie Heason whose threaded pass for the eager Macpherson to latch onto was accurate and as Jones challenged, Macpherson kept his composure to nudge the ball past the goalkeeper and inside the near post, as huge central defender Alex Foreshaw attempted to clear. 

MACPHERSON, SECOND FROM RIGHT, HAS NETTED FOR THE RAIDERS...

STEPHENS HAS COLLECTED GODDARD'S CHESTED PASS...

SANDLAND: SO EFFECTIVE DESPITE THE PAIN...

In response, the visitors continued to take their goal-kicks and free-kicks quickly, so that when Whittaker slipped a pass back to Brad Coward, the right-back’s cross found Thomas between two home defenders for a clear header at goal but his aim was awry and the ball bounced wide from 8 yards out. Butterworth’s over exuberance brought him the first caution of the game but when Sandland’s astute pass freed Yates centrally, the striker messed up completely. Stephens, facing a one-on-one situation did get a left glove to the ball but still Yates looked odds on to convert for his team but from 5 yards, right of centre, to his chagrin he skewed a poor effort beyond the left upright with home defender Glen Sitch attempting to cover.

BUTTER YELLOW IS SHOWN TO BUTTERWORTH...

OMG: YATES HAS MISSED...

THE MAN FROM OKEHAMPTON (REALLY) IN THE BACKGROUND CAN BARELY BELIEVE IT EITHER...

The parity goal wasn’t long coming though and Whittaker was inevitably involved, slipping Jones away on the right whose low delivery might have crossed the goal-line anyway after it had beaten Stephens but Yates made sure…

YATES WOULD LIKE MY BADGER TO DIG A HOLE TO CLIMB INTO...

...BUT THIS TIME, YATES HAS SCORED...

...& HE NEEDS SOMEONE TO HUG...

Thomas was blocked by the home defence, Goddard slammed a shot way off target for the hosts and the left-back then calmly chested a fine Cornfield cross back to Stephens, after more neat approach work by the guests involving Sandland who appeared to have run off his pain somewhat. Carey drove a shot at Mandaracas before another low Thomas shot for ‘Field bounced up awkwardly as Stephens fell left but his flailing glove managed to keep it out. Sandland chased a long pass but Stephens got there first, then Sandland released a superb pass to free Thomas centrally but with Stephens advancing, the forward’s touch deserted him and Stephens must have sniggered as he collected the trickling ball. After Goddard had been replaced by another Smith, Rich this time, Macpherson and Carey nearly converted a much better free-kick trajectory by Ant Smith but the hosts nearly conceded again before the interval as messy defending saw Whittaker’s pass free Yates onside again but the lean striker’s decent low centre was just behind Thomas who must have thought it was Friday 13, not Wednesday 25th and the chance went begging. 

ANOTHER THOMAS MISS...

Heason was replaced by a third Smith for the hosts (Paul this time) and it was to cause me problems, for with a Glen Sitch in the team, I began to confuse Rich Smith’s and Glen Sitch’s forenames, as well as referring to ‘Field’s Scott Powell as ‘Howell’, having attempted to decipher the team-sheet. On other occasions, I confused Cornfield and Sandland… No idea why. Apologies all round, guys… So half-time had arrived, no heavy showers had fallen, no thunder had been heard but the temperature had dropped so alarmingly that hands were turning a gentle shade of blue, despite the amazingly beautiful sunset skies beyond.

GODS, CAN I BUY THIS PAINTING?

An early second-half opportunity was again scorned by Yates whose not well struck low shot from inside-right oozed well wide of the far upright but when trouble sparked between Cornfield and Ant Smith, both were cautioned although the reaction of Smith to Cornfield’s first tackling challenge seemed the worse offence from the other side of the rectangle. Ant Smith drove wide of the far post from Macpherson’s assist before the guests attacked for a short period and then the hosts began to get more into the game. Yates had moved to the left side, home defender Carey was now at left-back but soon Thomas drove the ball across the face of the home goal, then a Thomas shot cannoned off Hobbs, before Whittaker slipped a pass left for the overlapping Cornfield to fire a low angled effort at Stephens who parried well but grabbed the loose ball. 

TROUBLE FOR ONE OF THE SMITHS...

POSTURING BY ANT SMITH BUT HAS JON CORNFIELD GOT 3 LEGS?

RUNNING WITHOUT A CAREY IN THE WORLD...

Another Thomas effort flew across the goalmouth and well wide after he had cut inside from the left but before Yates was surprisingly replaced by Atkinson, the hosts really did push forward culminating in the winning goal. Tyler and Ant Smith combined and Carey’s cross dropped onto the goal-net, a short corner on the left resulted in a Carey centre and a Haines miss at the far upright, a Rich Smith shot was blocked and when an adept lifted pass by Tyler for Rich Smith saw a lay-back for Macpherson, the decent striker’s low shot through a crowd was well stopped falling left by the agile Mandaracas. 

MANDARACAS HOLDS ON...

The goal was an interesting one and of course was subsequently to be the deciding strike; Butterworth was involved and Tyler’s lifted clip from inside-left saw Haines’ header fly upwards, one which Mandaracas jumped with Rich Smith for but the ‘keeper’s knock away only dropped onto the lurking Haines’ left instep and the forward’s low volley flew into the bottom left corner of the net. Bar a caution for intentional use of the hands by Hobbs, the hosts were not again in the game as an attacking force before the final whistle but in truth the visitors ought not have left Claines Lane without a point.

2-1 NOW: HAINES THE SCORER...

A weak Thomas shot, the replacement of the talented Whittaker by the pacy Kieran Cook and the gaining of a left-flank corner, suddenly brought pressure upon the Hobbs-led home defence. Two defensive headers cleared the left-side flag-kick but Coward, bravely involved on offense, laid back the ball to Thomas and from a position much further away from goal from any of his previous opportunities, he clipped a fine shot against the outside of the right upright. Atkinson failed to get a touch at the near post after Cook had sprinted to the left byeline before Coward lifted a wasteful 20 yarder way too high, then the ever busy Jones fed Sandland on the right and his clever pass inside for Atkinson looked sure to bring a goal but the substitute slipped his low shot past the near post. 

Stephens then saved his team twice as darkness threatened Caines Lane and time began to run out but the torso of Hobbs also intervened again to preserve the tenuous lead. A Jones free-kick was hacked by Cornfield on the left byeline towards Thomas whose angled shot was beaten out from a standing position by the goalie, then Jones’ deft footwork led him to have a shot blocked but he fastened onto the rebound and rapped a good effort from 18 yards which cannoned off the buttocks of the home skipper and dropped only just over the crossbeam. So, buttocks as hot and as red as a hob for Hobbs then…

STEPHENS IS TREATED BUT HE HAS SAVED THE DAY FOR THE RAIDERS...

Finally the crescendo arrived and this incident decided the outcome of the match. Hobbs’ back-pass was slightly short as the hosts desperately attempted to hang onto their lead and Atkinson spotted the chance to attack, rushing to reach the ball before the quickly advancing Stephens. It did seem that the forward maybe got there first, just, but Stephens crashed into the forward and both parties went a-swinging and a-swirling and a-splattering to the turf. The referee pointed towards the goal and it seemed like a penalty had been awarded but with Stephens unable to rise, it became clear that the officials had simply awarded a goal-kick… Hmm…

Young Dylan Hart, an outfielder, became Joe Hart the goalie for the final moments and clutched one left-flank centre by Thomas to preserve the Raider victory…

Certainly Sandland, Jones and Whittaker were easy on the eye for ‘Field and it was good to see the speedy restarts employed by the visitors, keeping the ball moving to surprise opponents. Mandaracas perhaps didn’t possess the strongest place-kick and so the working of the ball from the back was invaluable as well as largely admirable. Yates and Thomas were profligate, yes, but their involvement never waned. For the hosts, Hobbs and Sitch managed the ‘Field threat adequately but Stephens did his bit to achieve the victory, Tyler battled, as did Butterworth and Macpherson took so much of the offensive load on his own shoulders. Carey and Ant Smith played their parts, as did the two replacement Smiths…

Me? Back on the M5 before a night closure. I was cold to the bone. Enjoyed my second visit to Claines Lane though and was welcomed well but when the ground is blessed with floodlights, perhaps Worcester Raiders will move up the pyramid and challenge for a place in the Midland League… 

Maybe they should rename themselves the Worcester Chiefs and change the colour to red, yellow and white, like Kansas City…

TEAMS:

WORCESTER RAIDERS:

DAN STEPHENS, DALE GODDARD, SAM CAREY, JOEL HOBBS (CAPT), GLEN SITCH, LEWIS BUTTERWORTH, ANT SMITH, MATT TYLER, NICK MACPHERSON, JOEY HAINES, JAMIE HEASON.

SUBS:

DAIN TRAYLOR, DYLAN HART, PAUL SMITH (THE BROMSGROVE MANAGER? SURELY NOT…), CASEY-JOE GORMLEY, RICH SMITH.

WEDNESFIELD FC:

DYLAN MANDARACAS, BRAD COWARD, ZAK COX, SCOTT POWELL, ALEX FORESHAW, KEITH THOMAS, SCOTT SANDLAND, JOSH JONES (CAPT), LUKE YATES, JON CORNFIELD, KIERON WHITTAKER.

SUBS:

TYRONE ATKINSON, KIERAN COOK, DANIEL TURTON, JAMES QUARRY, LEWIS GILL.