Monday, March 1, 2004

IT took extra-time in the end but Worcester City reached their first cup final in three years last night.

John Barton's team defeated Halesowen Town 3-2 on a bone-hard St George's Lane pitch to book a place in the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup Final against either old rivals Kidderminster Harriers or Sutton Coldfield Town.

City's manager hailed an 'outstanding' first-half display but the tie should have been dead and buried by the interval.

"It doesn't matter what level of opposition you play, if you come off your game it causes problems," said Barton.

"The first-half was outstanding in terms of quality and performance on a tricky surface. However, we fell away dramatically after the break.

"But we got there in the end and it's great to reach a final because we haven't had an abundance of them."

City, with a midfield axis of Jai Stanley and Liam McDonald, produced a scintillating early display that put them two up and comfortably in control.

Adam Wilde, who crashed a shot against the bar on 10 minutes, swung over a corner seven minutes later for City's first goal, with Jon Holloway's parried header poked in from close range by Adam Webster, making a rare start.

Both he and out-of-favour Darren Middleton were eager to impress, and did, as Barton's attacking line-up pulled Halesowen apart.

Fortunate to survive three strong penalty appeals, two for wrestling manoeuvres on McDonald, Halesowen were powerless to prevent Mark Owen doubling the lead on 36 minutes.

The striker used his pace to outstrip former City defender Dan Jones before clipping a bouncing ball past Mark Shiels, who later produced a superb double block to deny Stanley and Webster at point blank range.

Halesowen grabbed a lifeline in the 54th minute with a breakaway goal by Craig Strachan, son of ex-Southampton manager Gordon, the youngster rifling his shot home from the right side of the box.

Moments after a brilliant Wilde run, the Yeltz stunned City again by equalising in the 68th minute. Paul Carty was caught dithering by Simon Forsdick, and Jason Moore converted the simplest of finishes from eight yards.

But with temperatures plummeting, Wilde warmed City hearts with the decisive goal -- a 25-yard shot that whizzed low past Shiels, two minutes into extra-time.

Even then it wasn't quite over as Danny McDonnell was forced to make a sensational reflex save to deny Stuart Skidmore from 12 yards.

City: McDonnell 7, Davies 6, Carty 6, Holloway 7, Woolley 5, McDonald 8 (Snape 109), Stanley 9, Middleton 7, Owen 7 (Kelly 7, 90), Webster 7, Wilde 8. Subs (not used): Parker, Halliday, Hayes.

Attendance: 329.