Worcester City FC U11s hosted the Nunnery Wood Colts Thunder U11s team at Perdiswell Leisure Centre, Worcester on Saturday 5th March 2022 for a Mercian Counties Shield U11 (Plate) cup semi-final match.

Managers Laurence Helme and Luke Morris presided over the team.

Team Sheet
Goal Keeper – Tom
Defenders - Joel & Theo
Midfielders - Arlo, Ethan (captain), Toby, Hayden, Ewan, Luke & Will
Forwards - Olly, Max & Fraser

First Half
The first half started with City applying most of the early pressure and the first 15 minutes of the match saw the majority of play taking place within the Thunder’s half of the pitch.

In the 14th minute, City created a goal scoring chance. City won a free kick for a trip just outside the Thunder penalty area and in a central location. Joel stepped up to take the kick but his shot went just over the Thunder cross bar.

In the 22nd minute, Thunder opened their scoring account in the match. A Thunder player was attacking with the ball and ran with it into the left side of the City penalty area, they had managed to elude the City defenders and Tom the City goal keeper came out to try and claim the ball. As the attacker shaped up to take the shot at goal, Tom dove down to try and block it but rather than going for goal himself the attacker crossed the ball square across the face of the goal and a team mate was able to tap the ball into an unguarded net.

In the 25th minute, Thunder scored another goal in the match. A Thunder player was attacking down the left side again and they had the ball deep into the City penalty area, almost running along the goal line. All the players on the pitch expected a cross and when it came, rather than finding a team mate, the ball looped into the air over Tom in the City goal and dropped into the far side of the goal from a really tight angle.

In the 28th minute, City created a goal scoring chance. Theo had the ball centrally in the midfield area; he played a forward through ball for Olly to run onto. Olly picked up the ball near the edge of the Thunder penalty area and as he ran into the area, he took a shot at goal; unfortunately the ball went just wide of the Thunder left goal post.

In the 30th minute, the City defence denied Thunder a goal scoring chance. A Thunder player was attacking with the ball into the City penalty area and they had created a one-on-one scenario with Tom the City keeper. Tom came rushing off his line to close down the angles for the attacker to shoot into and as the two came together, Tom dove at the attacker’s feet to smother the ball and retain it.

Second Half
The City team knew they had to put the Thunder team under pressure again at the start of the second half and that the next goal could be vital in the match for whoever scored it.

In the 33rd minute, City opened their scoring account in the match. City had won a throw-in on the right and mid-way into the Thunder half; Joel stepped up to take the throw but it was intercepted by a Thunder defender, however they couldn’t control the ball and it rebounded back to Joel who was pushing up field. Joel immediately played the ball through the air towards the Thunder’s penalty area. Within the D area, Fraser was waiting to receive the ball but whilst it was still in the air he was unable to bring it under control. However, Fraser was able to stretch up his leg to tip the ball over a Thunder’s defender who was stood behind him and this meant the ball travelled to Toby who was waiting on the left side of the Thunder penalty area. Toby controlled the ball and shot low and to the left of the Thunder keeper as he dived to try and save it (that was Toby’s eighth goal of the season and Fraser’s third assist).

In the 42nd minute, Thunder scored another goal in the match after breaking in numbers through the City defence.

In the 50th minute, City created a goal scoring chance. City won a free-kick just outside their own penalty area; Joel stepped up to take the kick and launched a long kick up field that found Fraser just outside the Thunder penalty area. Fraser turned with the ball and took a few steps towards goal before shooting low and left. The Thunder keeper scrambled across the goal and dived to their right to save the ball but was a fraction of a second too late and the ball went past their outstretched hand, unfortunately for City the ball struck the bottom of the left post and the keeper was able to gather it in.

In the 58th minute, City created a goal scoring chance. City won a free kick for a trip centrally and mid-way into the Thunder half, Joel stepped up to take the kick. His kick was high and looked destined to go into the top left corner of the Thunder goal but the keeper scrambled across and blocked the ball before it crossed the goal line.

The City team’s cup run was over for this season but they will be back next year for another go at it!

Well played Thunder and good luck for the rest of the season and in the cup final match. The match was watched by a few dozen respectful spectators who enjoyed an exciting game of football. All the City players put in great performances in the game but it was Ethan who was awarded man-of-the-match.

Thanks to all the City parents for their help and support on match day.

Worcester City FC

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