Lockett at the double as City progress in Marsh Challenge Cup

Match Report from James Batchelor

City came out as 5-2 winners on Tuesday evening, in what was a comfortable performance against local rivals Pershore Town in the 2nd round of the Marsh Challenge Cup thanks to a rampant first half for the visitors.

Following Saturday’s postponed match away to Royal Wootton Bassett, Tuesday was a chance to keep City’s winning run going in both league and cups. This is something that manager Chris Cornes is adamant on maintaining, as he believes that winning games creates a confidence and momentum which will put them in good stead until the end of the season.

Manager Cornes made 5 changes from City’s last outing against Cheltenham Saracens the previous Tuesday night in the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup. The changes included Haydn Whitcombe returning back in between the sticks in place of Joe Stockton, whilst there were two changes in defence with Elliot Keightley and Logan Stoddart coming back into the side for Lorcan Sheehan and the unavailable Jordan Lymn.

Further up the pitch, Calvin Dinsley returned to the fold after a short term injury, allowing Kyle Belmonte to move back into his familiar role operating just behind the striker. In addition, Liam Lockett came back into the attack with Izak Reid dropping out, as both Kyonn Evans and Dylan Hart were also unavailable for the game.

Within minutes of the kick off, surprisingly to some Pershore created the first chance of the game. The home side managed to work an opportunity to allow Sean Brain the chance to go in on goal, and the Pershore winger rounded City keeper Whitcombe in what seemed to look a nailed on goal, however he unbelievably ran the ball wide of the City goal.

After a glorious early opportunity for Pershore to take the lead, the visitors began to take control of the game, starving the visitors of the ball. City confirmed this dominant beginning to the game by taking the lead on 6 minutes. The unlikely goalscorer was Adam Mace with another sumptuous curling effort from the corner flag, almost a carbon copy of the goal which he scored the previous Tuesday night at home to Cheltenham Saracens. Albeit the goal was partially aided by the strong winds in Pershore which seemed to affect both teams throughout the game.

Everything seemed to be going to plan for City until on the 10th minute mark when influential midfielder Calvin Dinsley appeared to go down off the ball. City fans were left devastated, contemplating whether this may be a long term injury for Dinsley who looks likely to miss both trips to Slimbridge on Saturday in the Hellenic Premier Division and on the Tuesday night in the Wiseman Floodlit Cup. Dinsley will be a big miss for City with the club also looking forward to important matches in February, such as the FA Vase fixture against Stourport Swifts on the 10th. This resulted in Cam Monteith, returning back to play for City from his dual registration at Studley, taking the place of Dinsley who could carry on no more.

City managed to go through the gears and raced into a three goal lead thanks to two quickfire goals from Kyle Belmonte and Jamie Insall. The first of the two was a lovely team goal which started with good hold up play from striker Jamie Insall, who then provided a cute lofted pass to the onrushing Elliott Hartley. His deft touch fell into the path of Belmonte who’s finish ended up in the far corner despite the attempts of Pershore Keeper Cox.

5 minutes later, clinical City grabbed their third thanks to Jamie Insall who made it 2 goals in 2 games for himself. Liam Lockett provided the assist, dancing past the Pershore Town Right back and firing in a powerful low cross which Jamie Insall prodded in instinctively. City looked in command of the game until Pershore grabbed a goal back thanks to defender Sam Calrk who headed in from the near post as a result of a long throw in.

Chris Cornes’ men went into the half time interval in a comfortable position almost having booked their place to the next round of the Marsh Challenge Cup after 45 minutes. City maintained their clinical edge at the start of the 2nd half where Elliot Hartley was brought down and City were awarded a penalty kick. Liam Lockett stepped up to finish confidently into the bottom right corner sending the Pershore goalkeeper the wrong way to put the visitors up 4-1 in the 54th minute of the game. 2 minutes later, Perhsore were reduced to 10 men after a rash tackle from Steve Webb on Cam Monteith, this even further increased City’s control on the game putting the end result in little doubt.

However, Pershore kept going and with little longer than 10 minutes left on the clock the 10 men managed to conjure up a goal through Jamie Clark after some good footwork to get past Logan Stoddart and fire convincingly into the top corner left footed. Into added time and City made it 5 after Liam Lockett intercepted a pass box to the goal keeper, skipping round Cox and firing the ball into the back of the net.

Up next for City are back to back away trips to Slimbridge, with Saturday’s game a good chance to gain further points in the Hellenic Premier Division against tough opposition, whilst awaiting the draw for the next round of the Marsh Challenge Cup.