Match Report | WCWFC 3-2 Kidderminster Harriers

A brace from Maia Clark and a stoppage-time winner from Evie Billingsley sends City to the final of the Sunday Women’s Cup

Photo by Hannah Jones

City faced Kidderminster Harriers for the fourth time this season on Sunday, as Sunday Women’s Cup fever arrived at Sixways. City had already beaten their rivals three times this season, and Worcester looked to make it an unprecedented four wins from four matches against their Worcestershire counterparts.

Before the game, Sixways held a minute’s silence in memory of Amelia Aplin, who sadly passed away last week. Our thoughts and prayers are with Amelia’s family, friends, and everybody at Oxford United.

‍A few minutes into the game, Maia Clark bulldozed her way through the Kiddy defence, but her cross was too strong for the incoming Nyah Edwards at the far post.

Just after the fifteen-minute mark, it was the visitors who had the game's first meaningful opportunity; however, their shot from the edge of the box flashed wide of Jodie Whiteman’s post.

Moments later, a Clark cross from the right cannons off Edwards and the effort was palmed away by the Harriers' keeper.

From the resulting corner, City winger Charlotte Poole cut in from the right and looked to sneak a shot into the bottom-right corner. However, after the keeper scrambled the ball away, City tried to help the ball over the line, but Harriers cleared it away.

In the 25th minute, City took the lead through Maia Clark, after she isolated the defender, took a touch to run past her and rifled home to keep up her incredible scoring run.

‍Just past the half-hour mark, City nearly doubled their lead, after Evie Billingsley, who earned her first start since coming back from injury, flicked the ball over the defender's head to hit one on the half volley, but unfortunately for City, the keeper made the save.

Two minutes later, Kidderminster were back level, after a ball was played in behind City’s right and the visiting attacker shot underneath Whiteman.

In the 40th minute, Clark had a run into the box from the right and unleashed a powerful shot, which the keeper saved, and Harriers cleared for a Worcester corner.

‍Into the second half and with 52 minutes on the clock, Jess Fassnidge pulled the ball back to Clark, whose effort was blocked. Billingsley shot wide of the post with the follow-up shot.

‍A couple of minutes later, Billingsley teed up Clark, whose shot from the edge of the box went just wide of the upright, and then Clark had another effort, where the keeper crawled the ball away to keep the score level.

‍The City pressure finally paid off just after the hour mark, when Connie Matthews glided down the left channel and put the ball into the danger zone, where Clark was there to tap home for her brace.

‍Six minutes later, the visitors were back on level terms after Whiteman’s outstanding save, only for Harriers to head the ball in from the follow-up.

‍In the 77th minute, Edwards drove through the middle of the pitch and hit a shot, but unfortunately, the shot was straight down the throat of the goalkeeper.

‍In stoppage time, City scored the winner through Evie Billingsley, after Shona Baldwin pulled a ball back that hit off Edwards and fell to Billingsley, who made no mistake in slotting the ball calmly into the net to send City to their second final in three seasons.

‍Next up for City is a return to FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands action as Stourbridge visit Sixways on Sunday, 22nd March, with kick-off. at 14:00pm.

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WCWFC U18s

City’s U18s were due to be in County Cup semi-final action against Evesham United U17s, but City were awarded an away walkover and advanced to the County Cup final.

Next up for the U18s is a trip to local rivals Kidderminster Harriers in the league on Saturday, 21st March, with an 11:30am kick-off.

WCWFC Reserves

City’s Reserves game was postponed as they were due to face a trip to Knowle in the West Midlands Regional League Division One South Division as they looked to build on their fantastic 5-1 win over Hereford FC last time out.

Next up for the Reserves is a trip to the Valley Stadium to take on Redditch United on Sunday, 29th March, with a scheduled 15:00pm kick-off.

Thank you for all your fantastic support, City fans. Up the City!!

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