WCWFC 2 – 2 Kidderminster Harriers Women
Worcester City Women picked up a point this Sunday as they went up against local rivals Kidderminster Harriers at Sixways Stadium. Both teams fought hard against each other in a very end-to-end game that made it so both teams were level at the final whistle. The point still sees City Women at the top of the table with six games remaining.
The game got off to a quick start and within the first ten minutes, the Harriers had their first goal after a clever finish from the forward. Although City got off on the front foot, they couldn’t find a way to penetrate the Harriers who sat deep. A fast-paced counterattack from City led to Annie Highway striking from outside the box, only for her shot to unfortunately land in the keeper’s hands.
Top goal scorer Olivia Mitcham was eager to get City a goal and linked up well with Highway. Although the chances came, Mitcham’s shots couldn’t find the back of the net between the Reds’ defenders.
However, it wasn’t long before the striker was able to get the equaliser she sought after in the 17th minute. After some great build-up play from the back, Jess Fassnidge was able to feed Mitcham through who sent it into the top corner.
Emma Congrave had a lovely run of play as she and Fassnidge teamed up, with Mitcham making the run in support. Congrave’s cross-shot went centimetres wide of the left post this time though in the 20th minute.
Holly Rogers had her second go at goal with a great, curling kick but the effort settled on the top netting. Things remained positive for City though as they continued to make chances for themselves. Nearing the end of the half, Annie Highway and Hollie Congrave had to be substituted off through injury, being replaced by Kerstin Ballard and Sophie Griffiths.
City had what looked likely to be the last attack of the half with Congrave and Mitcham driving fast but the Harriers’ kept them at bay. Kidderminster then drew a good save from Stolt seconds before the whistle.
In the second half, it wasn’t long before the Harriers began to test City again. In the 56th minute, an early substitution had to be made due to another injury which saw Leah Ritson replacing Emma Congrave.
City kept pushing for a goal with Ritson racing along the left, but the Harriers remained so tight and relentless she couldn’t find a way through. However, a free kick from the captain eventually found its way to Sophie Griffiths who scored her first of the season, firing a low shot in between the sticks in the 71st minute.
Stolt came to the rescue with a fantastic, strong save for a strike that looked inevitable to reach the netting from the Reds. It gave City the continued momentum in the final third as Ritson looked to drill an effort in before she was forced wide by a defender.
The Harriers equalised 10 minutes before full-time after closely battled passages of play which neither team could get out of. From then on City couldn’t find a way through with the opposition remaining tight. Mitcham and Ritson looked such a threat for City but couldn’t break through. The last effort of the game came from City’s corner which led to a Cerys Dolloway header, which fell to the keeper’s hands.
Our unbeaten run continues as we head into our next game away at Lichfield! We look forward to seeing you there.
Don't forget to grab your tickets for our International Women's Day fixture on the 8th of March below!
Points shared on the road for Worcester City Women Development Team.
Sedgley and Gornal 1 - 1 WCWFC Devs
The Development Team started the game strong, looking to settle on the ball early and build up play, despite the pressure of the opposition. After 10 minutes, no chances on goal were created by either team due to strong defending from both sides.
City continued to play out well from the back, finding gaps behind the opposition’s midfield. However, City couldn’t find the perfect final ball through as Sedgley’s defence started very high and stayed strong, stopping the chance of any shots on goal early on.
The first chance of the game fell to Sedgley as the ball dropped to their centre-back around 30 yards out. She struck a powerful shot that was gathered up with ease by Leia Carter.
After 30 minutes, City started to create a threat in the final third with the link-up of Charlotte Smith and Ruby Mayo down the right-hand side. A big opportunity was created for City as Smith played the ball wide to Mayo who beat her defender, pulling the ball back in the box for a shot on goal from Lauren Smith. However, the effort was saved by the keeper.
The second half started similar to the first, with City moving the ball. This time though, City had the majority of possession now in the opposition’s half, pinning them back and creating better chances.
The first chance of the half fell to City. After a ball across the box turned into a scramble, the ball fell to Mayo at the back post. The shot was put just over the bar, keeping the game at 0-0 with 10 minutes gone.
The Development side continued to create chances and five minutes later they found the goal they had been looking for. After another pass across the box, the ball fell to Mayo at the back post. The first shot was blocked by the defender; however, the rebound was there to be smashed in by Mayo. Thus, making the game 1-0 to City with 15 minutes of the second half having been played.
City defended well, keeping the Sedgley attacks to a minimum as they continued to look to counter City’s dominance of possession and high line.
After an attack from Sedgley, the ball was recovered by Charlotte Smith and played wide to Mia Badland. As the ball was played into the box, she caught an elbow to the face by an opposition player. The referee gave the advantage to the side in possession. As the ball was set to Alice Finley on the edge of the box, she smashed it into the bottom corner, but the referee decided to stop the game as she shot to check on the injured player. The referee then decided that the action should result in an opposition goal kick, keeping the game at 1-0 and denying City the chance to extend their lead in the game.
Minutes later, City played a ball over the top for Badland to chase onto. The Sedgley defender did well to get her body in. Badland found a way to get a toe on the ball and looped it over the keeper, striking the crossbar and very narrowly staying out of the goal.
With 15 minutes to go, Sedgley started to settle on the ball and looked a lot more comfortable creating chances and winning multiple set pieces in dangerous areas.
With two minutes to go, City looked like they had secured all three points and a clean sheet. Unfortunately, though, Sedgley won a free kick just shy of the halfway line. They threw everyone forward and the ball was looped in and met perfectly by the opposition centre-half levelling the game with two minutes to play.
City Earn a Point from a Hard-Fought Showdown with Walsall.
Walsall U18 2 - 2 WCWFC U18
Saturday saw a classic “six-pointer” clash between sixth and fifth place when City’s U18s faced Walsall U18s in an away tie.
City burst out of the blocks, asserting their dominance in the opening exchanges. Within the first 10 minutes, they created two golden opportunities through Ellie and Bella down the right wing, but unfortunately, neither of their cross-goal balls were converted.
The deadlock was nearly broken in the ninth minute when a robust challenge by City’s defence on the Walsall striker led to a free kick just outside City's penalty area, but the shot narrowly missed the target.
Despite continued and sustained pressure from City, it wasn't until the 26th minute that the breakthrough came. In what was probably City’s best attack of the season, a five pass, 30-second move, saw the ball travel from the City box and into the Walsall net. The move initiated by Jenna saw the ball go out to Eva in the middle, then to Roseann on the left wing, then back into Eva who provided a beautifully weighted through ball to Ellie at the top of the D. Ellie finished clinically, putting City ahead with a sensational team goal.
Walsall responded swiftly, capitalizing on a defensive lapse which saw a cross ball through a congested penalty box end up in the City net in the 51st minute.
City showed resilience and determination, reclaiming the lead just moments later through Bella, whose persistence in the box paid off as she forced the keeper to clear, which ricocheted back off her and into the Walsall net.
The match took another twist in the 65th minute when a contentious penalty was awarded to Walsall for a perceived foul on their striker. Despite Becca's valiant effort to save the spot-kick, Walsall managed to convert, levelling the score once again.
The remainder of the game saw City pressing for a winner, dominating possession and territory, while Walsall resorted to sporadic counterattacks in an attempt to catch their opponents off guard.
In the end, neither team could find the decisive goal, and the match concluded with honours even. While City will be disappointed not to secure all three points, as Emma rightly pointed out, at the end of the game they should take huge pride in their resilient performance against a tough Walsall side.
Ellie was voted Player of the Match in the players’ vote for her determination and strength in attack.