City Edge Top of the Table Clash

Corsham TownWorcester City October 13, 2023 2 - 3 Full Time

With torrential rain on Friday, the match was in doubt but thankfully we awoke to a beautifully sunny day and the pitch looked perfect for this top-of-the-table clash.

Worcester City fans arrived in their droves, many enjoying the hospitality of Corsham bar before the match and were in full voice and confident mood after going top of the league the previous week. And they we even more pleased when they took the lead after only 4 minutes, a soft goal for Corsham to concede, despite a good finish from the left winger it was easily avoidable at this early stage of the game.

Corsham responded well and forced Worchester into some desperate defending and two good saves from the visiting keeper.

Despite Corsham’s good response, Worcester looked dangerous on the counter and with their second attempt of the game on 28 minutes, a superb strike from 25 yards put them two up.

Corsham kept up the pressure James Rusby shooting into the side netting but struggled to find a goal, the only difference between the teams was the clinical finishing of City.

More poor defending by Corsham on 37 minutes and the Worcester striker found himself with acres of space and once again finished ruthlessly. It was looking like the visitors were going to run away with it.

Corsham fans must have been thinking that luck wasn’t on their side when a free kick from Rusby was well saved and the follow-up by Mark Cooper hit the bar. But moments later a goal-mouth scramble saw the Worcester City captain use his hand to prevent the ball from going into the net and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a spot kick and dismissing him.

Neikell Plummer stepped up and pulled one back for the hosts on the stroke of halftime.

Corsham started the second half well and the Worcester keeper was needed on 55 minutes when he denied Plummers hammered volley. Corsham were pilling the pressure on the ten men now and on 68 minutes the keeper was needed again as a defender flicked on a cross and he pulled off another smart save to claw the ball away. And again on 70 minutes, he saved from Dan Price and then Cooper headed narrowly wide from a corner.

With time running out Worcester was managing the game and Corsham started to run out of ideas, Plummer still looked dangerous and one last push saw his effort cleared off the line but it was looking like it wasn’t going to be Corsham day.

A late penalty, converted by Mr Reliable Plummer was too little too late and despite a valiant effort against a very good outfit, it wasn’t to be this time. The away fans enjoyed the celebrations and travelled back up the M5 thinking that the season was over and they’d won the league, a bit premature maybe!

Man of the Match: Neikell Plummer