Date: 08-02-22 Harriers out of the second cup in a week

Following all the excitement of Saturdays FA Cup heroics against West Ham Utd it was now the turn of our second string to go looking for cup glory. This time though it’s not as prestigious, or crowd drawing, as the FA Cup but for some Harriers fans the Worcestershire Senior Cup runs it close.

Mainly youngsters were out on the Aggborough turf with just Joe Foulkes from the regular first teamers getting more game time in on his journey back from injury. On the bench was a surprise with Nyal Bell popping over from his loan at Tamworth. If he’s been recalled back here due to our striker shortage isn’t known yet.

It took the Harriers youngsters nine minutes to take the lead through Jack Male when the City keeper, Adam Harrison pushed the ball away from a shot on goal from Keegan Horan only for it to get fired in back in and hit the underside of the bar. Back out it came again and this time Male fired it home. The lead didn’t last long though as City drew level through Aaron Roberts when he put away a knockdown from Sam Hall.

It was an ex-Harrier who gave the visitors the lead in the forty first minute after going close earlier on with a volley from twenty yards out that the Reds keeper Jamie Emery saved well. This time he tried a different option by lifting the ball over the head of the second string keeper to give his new club the lead.

On the stroke of halftime the Harriers were awarded a penalty when Curtis Smith pulled Allesandro Pierpoint over in the area but Kai Lissimores spot kick was saved.

HT: 1 – 2

The second half of the game didn’t really get going until City began to make substitutions with Archie Muirhead coming on for Chinedu Osadebe and a minute later Fortune Maphosa getting the first action of the half with a header that Emery tipped over the bar. 

Jack Male had a couple more chances to get us back into the game with one coming from a Jack Tolley cross that he sent wide and then a minute later a shot from the edge of the area that kissed the top of the crossbar.

After that Bell came on to the Aggborough turf for the first time since the home defeat to Brackley Town on October 9th. Ten minutes later it was 1 -3 and game over when Fuller grabbed his second of the evening.

Curtis Smith sent over a long ball from the back that went over our defenders for Fuller to run on to and again lob Emery and into the net.

Nyal Bell went close with a header but that was it. Out of the second cup in a week and no trip to the Stadium of Plums to meet Pershore Town in the final either. All we have for glory is the league now. Bring it on!!!

FT: 1 – 3

Harriers: Emery, Foulkes, Pierpoint, Lissimore (Hewett 70), Bastable, Arrowsmith, Tolley, Harland, Hill (Bell 69), Male (Cartwright 84), Horan.

Subs: Melia, Wood, Cartwright, Hewett, Bell.

Worcester City: Harrison, C Smith, Whitton, Hall, Maphosa, J Smith, Taylor-Randle (Baker 86), Douglas, Roberts, Fuller (Montieth 90), Osadebe (Muirhead 68).

Subs: De Garis, Debar, Montieth, Muirhead, Baker.

Att: 553