City lose out to 10-man Droitwich

City fell to defeat at 10-man Droitwich Spa on Tuesday night in the Worcestershire Senior Cup, with the match finishing 3-1 to the home side.

Manager Chris Cornes fielding a strong line-up, making just three changes from the weekend win over Wolverhampton Casuals in the FA Vase. Lorcan Sheehan came into the back four in place of Kirk Layton, with Dylan Hart dropping to the bench in place of Elliott Hartley on the right win. Kyle Belmonte was also absent from the squad and was replaced in the number 10 slot by Izak Reid.

City started brightly in what was a high-tempered opening to the game, and were given an early boost when Callum Green was sent off after 18 minutes, adjudged to have brought down Elliott Hartley as last man. The referee had decided only minutes before to book Droitwich right back Jack Brighton when Liam Lockett was potentially through on goal and much closer than Hartley, which made the decision seem a little harsh, but the earlier challenge may have influenced the decision.

Droitwich heads didn’t drop however and they went ahead despite the man disadvantage on 28 minutes. Perry Moss delivered an excellent ball into the box which was met by the head of Charlie Tilley, and he managed to direct an effort towards goal which despite looking as if it were looping over the crossbar, dropped into the back of the net to the despair of Haydn Whitcombe.

City began to press forward and looked to have equalised through an Elliott Hartley effort which looked to have crossed the line for most of the ground other than the linesman, but the ball bounced away and was cleared by Droitwich rather than staying in the back of the net.

The equaliser did come though with five minutes left of the first half. Lockett broke through the Spa backline and ran through on goal, finishing confidently past keeper Chadwick.

Both sides had chances early in the second half, Connor Gater with probably the best for City when played through on goal, but his lobbed finish ended wide of the goal, and Perry Moss had a good effort on goal saved well by Whitcombe. Droitwich went ahead though shortly after the hour mark, when substitute Roland Krol met a corner at the front post to head the ball into the back of the net to restore Spa’s lead.

The remaining twenty minutes for City were mainly spent trudging back into their own half, as every attack forward led to an offside decision by the linesman, and they will no doubt be disappointed not to have worked Chadwick more in the Spa goal.

Droitwich managed to secure the win on 81 minutes when Whitcombe received a wayward back pass that allowed James Lemon to close him down, and forced him into bringing the attacker down. Left back Binner made no mistake from the spot and wrapped up the home side’s progress in to Senior Cup for the second year in a row over City.

City’s focus returns to their man priority for the season this Saturday when hosting third placed Royal Wootton Bassett at Claines Lane.