Match Preview

It's a return to Claines Lane this weekend for City's first home league fixture of 2024, as Chris Cornes' side host Lydney Town in another important Hellenic Premier Division clash, 3pm kick off.

City have continued in a seriously impressive vein of form of late, having won all eight fixtures across all competitions in January, which included four league matches, two Wiseman Cup fixtures, a Marsh Cup victory, and the FA Vase win, to see City continue competing in four competitions as we head into the business end of the season. During those eight matches City scored an impressive 27 goals, conceding just seven, with clean sheets in half of those games.

The midweek win over Slimbridge in the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup has set up a Semi Final tie with Brimscombe & Thrupp, anothe fixture which has been added on to City's already bursting-at-the-seams end of season schedule, and a run of six games in February begins with the Lydney clash on Saturday.

Our visitors currently find themselves in 19th position in the league table, seven points ahead of bottom side Wantage Town, but having played two games more the Gloucestershire outfit will be keen to put even further points between them and the drop zone. Lydney are currently on a run of seven games without a win since an impressive 2-1 victory over Slimbridge just before Christmas, but in their last two have drawn with Highworth Town and only been beaten 2-1 by Fairford, which you may feel may mean performances have been improving.

After the Slimbridge cup win in midweek, Chris Cornes spoke to WCFC TV about the club's recent run, having played the majority of recent fixtures all against sides who were around the promotion places in the division, compared to City's next five in the league when they face no one higher than 13th in the table. 'When you play against the teams in and around you it's sometimes personally easier to get yourself up for those games, and no disrespect to the teams lower but they can be harder to get yourselves up for. But with what we've got in there (the dressing room) the players do not rest on their laurels, and it's a fantastic group.'

With Lydney having already claimed a few higher opposition scalps in the league this season, including wins over Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Slimbridge (twice), it will be important for the players to keep that mentality through this next period of games.

Amongst City's side are a number of players currently in fantastic periods of form themselves. In Dylan Hart's absence since the Lichfield game, Jamie Insall has led the line incredibly well for the side and has three goals in his last four games, moving on to 20 for the season on Tuesday night. Alongside Insall, Elliott Hartley is another who has three in his last four.

Kyle Belmonte also continued his own exceptional form in January, notching six goals in City's eight matches, and has seven in the club's last 10 games.

At the other end of the field, Cornes will have no doubt been pleased with the two clean sheets in successive matches, even with the changes in goal and in the back four. Cornes credited Lorcan Sheehan in particular after the game, referring to him as a credit to his squad and someone who he can rely upon even when not playing week in, week out.

Morale is as high as could be in the squad currently, with new additions Lymn and Townsend settling in to a very close-knit group, which The Faithful hope will carry the club to silverware on multiple fronts by the end of the campaign.

For this game we have THREE car parks available:

ON SITE AT THE GROUND: COST: £5 - There is limited parking at the ground which must be pre-booked via our online store here - If you park onsite you must arrive by 2.30pm at the latest otherwise we cannot guarantee your space.

RGS THE GRANGE, Grange Lane, Worcester WR3 7RR - this is a secure car park which is marshalled from 1pm to 2.55pm. Cost £2 per car payable in cash at the car park entrance. This car park is locked at 6.30pm

THE RIVER SCHOOL, School Lane, Worcester WR3 7ST - this car park is open from 1pm and costs £3 per car payable in cash at the car park entrance. Please note that there is a steep bank leading to this car park.