Worcester City U11 bounce back with a win to end Coventry unbeaten record

Worcester City v Coventry City Worcester City welcomed Coventry City to Battenhall Road on a crisp wintery morning – the kick off had been put back to 11am to allow the ground to fully thaw out and while the pitch was fully playable it was quite slippy in places.

The first quarter was very cat & mouse with Worcester City forcing two corners and then Coventry going very close on 12 minutes until Connor Seery cleared off the line with an acrobatic clearance. Jack Tustin also went close for the home side just before the break but it was 0-0 at 20 minutes.
The second period started with Coventry holding good possession and looking dangerous but both keepers still had a relatively quiet time.

Worcester went very close to taking the lead after half an hour with Corey Smith making a great run culminating in a snap shot which the Coventry keeper pushed out to Jack Tustin whose effort hit the post and went out for a goal kick. Coventry then went quite close direct from a free kick which went narrowly over the bar. Worcester took the lead on 37 minutes when Jay Jay Hobbs put in a great through ball to Scott Wheeler who calmly slotted past the onrushing keeper – 1-0 Worcester. And this was score at the end of the second period.

Worcester continued to press at the start of the third period and Scott Wheeler sent in an opportunistic long range effort but it went narrowly wide. With three minutes to the break Corbin Jarvis went on a long mazy run beating three defenders & was clean through but slightly off balance and his shot beat the keeper but also the far post. Coventry continued to play a neat passing game with lots of endeavour but the Worcester defence of Ross Beesley, Jack Hodgson, Connor & Josh Davies held firm & were impressive & resolute throughout. Worcester 1 Coventry 0 at the end of period three.

At the start of the fourth quarter Coventry pressed forward strongly but Jack Tustin intercepted strongly & sent a long through ball to Corey Smith who had a lot of work to do but gambled on some confusion between the Coventry defence & keeper which happened & he was on hand to slot home. Worcester City 2 Coventry City 0 Worcester hoped that this would give them breathing space but Coventry came storming back & from immediate pressure a misunderstanding in the home defence led to a defensive clearance being hit hard at close range on to another defender & the ball ricocheted into the net for an own goal – Worcester City 2 Coventry City 1. Coventry pressed for an equaliser but the Worcester defence held firm & Corey Smith had another chance but shot wide & Jay Jay hit a free kick just wide before the referees final whistle.

Worcester City 2 Coventry City 1 – a close fought affair with Coventry’s first defeat of the season & all eyes on the return fixture in early March. Worcester would like to wish Coventry all the best for the rest of the season.