Worcester 2nds Start The New Season With A Point.

With the troops gathering at nunnery ready to make the wet away trip to North Staffs the conversation quickly gathered momentum on who was playing in what positions. The only person who could have shed light on these questions was the skipper. it seemed his requested meet time was merely a joke as he strolled up 20 mins later than everyone else. With the fleet of transport ready to leave the 2nd team departed. Hooper left slightly after the other cars and as he made up ground on the M5 looking for the other cars the Hooper car soon spotted what looked like the skippers VW ahead but there was what looked like a dog hanging out the window, with a chorus of "Watling hasn't got a dog" we soon realized that James Neal was the dog like creature hanging out the back window acting like a dog tongue out and ears flapping! We don't know either.

Arriving at the pitch with only minutes to spare a rushed warm up was held and the starting line up announced. Joe Barker was heard squeeking "Watling... Watling I've never player in this position before, i don't know what i'm doing here, Watling.. Watling" Watling resolved this instantly making Joe sub.

The game started and North Staffs were straight on the front foot pressing Worcester in their own half and this carried on for the first 5 or 6 mins of the game. The first time Worcester were able to turn the ball over and string 2 quick passes together it released a counter attack and Henry Jeffs was unlucky not to score very much against the run of play. This gave the 2nds a bit of confidence and the game became a little more even but it was Worcester who started to take control of the game hitting Staffs on the counter attack a number of times but the final pass or shot just not quite good enough.

With Worcester in full control of the game the North Staffs best attacks were started by either Joe Hughes or James Neal who seemed to be having a private competition between themselves, we think the game was who could pass to the North staffs front line the most. Fortunately each time they made a pass to the opposition they were able to take the ball back with ease.

With Half Time time arriving and the score still 0-0 Worcester couldn't believe they were not in front. Watling and Hooper gave a positive team talk and highlighted that the counter attack is where the best chances were coming from and made sure that people new to release the ball quickly and with a better final ball the goals were there for the taking...... **remember this bit in bold**

The second half started and Worcester were in complete control and creating lots of chances. a couple of short corners came Worcesters way and the second of which Rob Goodman was able to caress to ball down with a well placed thigh and flick the ball home to give Worcester a well deserved lead (if you forget about the thigh part).
The 2nds were dominating the game and with superior fitness running the staffs midfield and defence ragged but yet still no further goals to add to the lead.

The half time team talk suddenly became real life when Joe Hughes stripped the staffs forward and instantly gave the ball to Hooper who found Joe Sullivan just a quickly, Sullivan knocked the ball to Joe Barker, Worcester had now traveled from their own D to inside the staffs half of the pitch in a matter of seconds and 3 passes. Joe Barker continued the move finding Ollie Ranscombe storming down the right wing who cut in towards the D and with perfectly weighted a pass into Puggy at the back post who from 2 yards had a wide open goal. Just a tap in was required to finish the move a complete exactly what we said at half time....... BUT oh no!! Puggy had other ideas and decided to miss the ball and watch it off the end of the pitch for a staffs 16 yard hit.

Another short corner soon after this and Rob Goodman flicked the ball towards goal but with onrushing staffs defender who got a slight touch and deflected the ball high in to Rory Simmons who with 1 touch fired the ball on to the crossbar and over the staffs goal & was very unlucky not to score on reflection using his head to send the ball goal wards might not have been the best option. thankfully after a little wobble and Hooper telling him not to dare bleed he was OK.

As the game went on there was rarely any danger to the Worcester Goal and any chances were snuffed out by Joe Hughes and James Neal and Reg Sharratt making a couple of good saves. With Worcester in full control of the game and the end of the second half insight Norths Staffs managed to break down the right side and put a few passes together. As they approached the Worcester D the 2nds defenders were a little out of position and as the staffs right wing crossed the ball in to the top of the D The skipper read the situation perfectly and made his move to cut the pass out. Unfortunately his first step resembled Bambi and as he stacked it on the top of the D he could only watch as he lay on the floor the staffs forward collect the ball and miss hit into the goal. 1-1. Watling later claimed everyone else was at fault for not marking their man & suggested a banana skin may have been the reason for the slip.

the game ended 1-1 and North Staffs far more happy.

With man of the match going to Joe Barker. Well done Joe. the DOTD award was between 3 people, James Neal for his dog impression, Watling for taking a dive in the D and Puggy for missing the worlds most simple tap in.

Ben "Puggy" Martin saw off his competition in style and will be making a cake next week. Unlucky Puggy.