Fighting spirit sees Worcester City Under 15s into final

City are into the final of the Worcestershire FA County Cup after late drama in their last four tie at Nunnery Wood Colts.

The visitors looked to be heading out of the competition until Will Sankey crashed home a corner with virtually the last kick of normal time to take the tie to penalties and a shoot-out that went City's way.

Nunnery led by a penalty of their own awarded midway through the second-half of a tight contest in which both goalkeepers excelled.

The home keeper made the first save of note as he blocked a Jesse Asomugha effort from close quarters, whilst City's Josh Reed-Jones was next to be tested as a diverted a shot from outside the box around the post - the resulting corner headed narrowly over at the back post.

Nunnery were being stretched by Jamie Hill's mazy runs from midfield, whilst Archie Thurston threatened with a header and then with a shot that was saved. The corner that followed leading to a melee in the box that was eventually cleared as the half ended with the hosts pressurising City's back line to create a shooting opportunity that Reed-Jones gratefully clutched low down at his right-hand post.

The second-half began with Hill weaving his way into the Nunnery box where the ball fell nicely to Charlie Grubb but the midfielder was unable to keep his shot down.

After Matt Athey cleared off the line, Nunnery threatened again down City's left as their striker's attempt was spectacularly pushed to safety by Reed-Jones. Moments later, the home side had a man over and forced Reed-Jones into another great save only for the chase for the loose ball to result in a collision between opposition players that resulted in a penalty award from which Nunnery scored.

City changed shape to get back into the game but a spirited Nunnery side continued to hold firm. As the tie entered its closing stages, City piled forward but just couldn't find a way past the home keeper who tipped over a George Hymas effort and then pulled off a truly outstanding reflex save to foil Sankey.

However the centre-back wasn't to be denied as, after the visitors won a succession of corners, City's determination to get something from the game was finally rewarded as Sankey drilled in the latest of equalisers - Nunnery only having time to kick-off before the referee blew his whistle to take the game into a penalty shoot-out.

Asomugha, Will Cottell, Jamie Hill and Alex Fenn converted for City. Reed-Jones then saved Nunnery's fourth to enable captain Cian Sheehan to slot the winning spot kick to seal a 5-3 shoot-out win and a place in the mid-June final.

It was a tough way for Nunnery to bow out. Credit to each of their players for a battling performance throughout the contest and also to the City squad for their resilience in digging deep once again to get a positive outcome from a game.