Goals galore as City ease past Cheltenham Saracens

City ran out winners over Hellenic Division One side Cheltenham Saracens on Tuesday evening 4-2, even after an early scare to make it through to the Quarter Finals of the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup.

Following Saturday's FA Vase victory over Lichfield, Manager Cornes made six changes to his starting line-up. Jamie Insall, Elliott Hartley and Kyonn Evans all came in to a completely changed front three, with Dylan Hart absent from the squad and Liam Lockett dropping to the bench. Jordan Lymn, who had started wide right of the front three on Saturday, already proving his versatility since signing, was moved to right back, Logan Stoddart getting an evening off and starting the game on the bench. Lorcan Sheehan also came into the back four, with Elliott Keightley rested for this one, and with Kyle Belmonte playing a slightly deeper role in the 8 in place of Calvin Dinsley, Izak Reid was given the opportunity in the 10.

Joe Stockton also came into the side, giving Haydn Whitcombe a night off from between the sticks.

City began the match on top at a bitterly cold Claines Lane, but despite a number of early chances falling to Insall, it was the visitors from the league below who took the lead after 20 minutes. Forward Goodwin was played in behind and smashed the ball past Stockton and into the top corner, to give Saracens an unlikely lead.

It didn't take long for City to hit back though and they equalised through Elliott Hartley. Insall found Hartley with a cross six yards out, who managed to loop a header above the Saracens keeper and into the back of the net.

Hartley almost had a second on the stroke of half time when played in by Mace, and his low shot beat the keeper but not the post, and so the scores stayed level going into the break.

Into the second half and it was City stopper Stockton who was first called into action, making a brilliant save from a Saracens chance when they'd beaten the City back line and managed to get a shot in on goal from inside the box. City though would go ahead for the first time on the night on 50 minutes through skipper Adam Mace. Incredibly, from a City corner kick, Mace would score directly with his third goal of the season.

Worcester began to assert their dominance and went 3-1 up through Insall just before the hour. In the Saracens' penalty area he cut inside on his right foot, and smashed the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

Many of The Faithful in attendance at Claines Lane would have been forgiven for thinking that the two goal lead may take the wind out the sails of the visitors, but Saracens would halve the deficit when a cross was deflected off the unlucky Sheehan and into the back of the net, bringing the score on the night to 3-2. City wrapped up the cup tie though through Kirk Layton, rising highest from another City corner at the back post to head into the back of the Saracens net.

City now face a Quarter Final tie with fellow Premier Division side Slimbridge, away from home on Tuesday 30th January, just days after visiting the same opposition in the league. The league meeting at Claines Lane between the sides finished 1-1 in November, meaning both ties will prove tough tests for Cornes' side.

Next up however is a tough away trip to third-placed Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday, as the team look to keep up the pressure at the top of the Hellenic Premier Division.