Worcester City 3 The Mikes 0

Following an impressive victory in the FA Cup against Daventry Town a week earlier the Mikes travelled to The Victoria Ground to face Worcester City in good spirits. They were however without Joe Lyng (suspended); Owen Parry (at his Mother’s wedding) and J’Cee Abraham (injured). The replacements were Jack Coates, new signing Tom Massey and loanee/former player Kieren Westwood.
In bright afternoon sunshine the game opened at a fast pace. Liam Lockett for the home side sent a pile driver just wide of Lewis Fenney’s right hand post before the Kyle Byrne was dispossessed as he was about to strike for goal. The diminutive striker was foiled by a last-ditch block by Luke English minutes later as he looked set to complete a fine five man move. Cameron Gayle fed Rikardo Reid but the strikers first time effort was easily gathered by Cann. The City striker Jordan Harrison was booked after flattening Gayle before a Rico Taylor cross eluded both Reid and Coates when it looked certain either would score. The Mikes defence was now beginning to be put under pressure with both City full backs Nat Kelly and Luke English adding their presence down both flanks. A long throw from the latter should have been converted by Harrison as the Mikes defenders waited for each other to deal with it. Jack Skinner became the second player booked before the deadlock was broken. Another left-wing sortie on 26 minutes caused problems in the visitors rearguard and although Harry Craven looked to have saved the day Lockett pounced on his attempted clearance and fired across Fenney from the corner of the six-yard box to open the score.
It was all City now and Lockett brought a fine save from Fenney before English doubled the score on 37 minutes stealing in unnoticed and heading in a cross from Aaron Birch from close range. Things took a further turn for the worst shortly after this setback. Skinner and Coates collided with each other as the Mikes searched for a response; both suffering facial injuries. Skinner was replaced by Steve Simpson but it was decided to try and patch Coates up. Playing on with ten men after the delay matters got worse deep into first half stoppage time. English not for the first time linked up in the attack firing a raking pass out to the left. Adam Osbourne tricked the Mikes defenders before crossing and there was that man English to repeat his earlier effort by eluding the attentions of Westwood, and volleying home from close range to double his personal tally.
Following this latest setback, the half time decision was not to send Coates back into the fray with Brad Lindsey coming on in midfield and debutant Massey dropped back to partner Craven. Ty Knight who was generally well shackled on the right flank did burst into the box minutes into the second period and was brought down by Josh Willis to win a penalty. It seemed a lifeline and a way back into the game but the reliability that Reid showed from the spot last season was missing as his tame effort was easily saved by Cann. Charlie Morris replaced Knight with Byrne switching flanks. The substitute along with Westwood produced several good left-wing raids but despite several attempts on goal they failed to test the home custodian. With a three-goal cushion from their first half efforts City did not have to chase the game but Boldmere did defend doggedly in the second period. The penalty should have been the spark to try and claw back the deficit but it was Worcester who came closest to further addition to the score line when Fenney brilliantly saved an effort from Demetri Brown in the closing stages.
It was always going to be difficult to salvage the game after conceding three goals in the twenty-minute spell before the interval. To the players credit they stuck to their task in the second period defending with far more tenacity; albeit that City may have taken their foot of the gas following a dominant latter stage showing in the first half. The result leaves the Mikes firmly entrenched at the foot of the league before they meet a buoyant Heather St Johns.

The Mikes: Lewis Fenney, Cameron Gayle, Kieren Westwood, Rico Taylor, Harry Craven, Jack Coates (Brad Lindsey 45), Ty Knight (Charlie Morris 56), Tom Massey, Rikardo Reid, Jack Skinner Steve Simpson 40), Kyle Byrne. Subs not used: Barry Healey, Jamie Mastropierro
Worcester City: Ted Cann, Luke English, Nat Kelly, Sam Hall, Nyeko Sinclair, Aaron Birch, Liam Lockett, Chris Withington, Jordan Harrison, Demetri Browne, Adam Osbourne Subs used: Joel Caines, Josh Willis, Tyreece Ruddock Subs not used: Jack Jeys, Colin Smith.