Off-colour City in further derby woe (From Worcester News)

Off-colour City in further derby woe

6:13pm Tuesday 1st January 2013 in Sport By Steve Carley, @stevecarleyWN

WORCESTER City got 2013 off to the worst possible start as they suffered their second defeat in a week against local rivals Gloucester City.

Carl Heeley’s team, beaten 1-0 by the Tigers at St George’s Lane on Boxing Day, were ripped apart in a 10-minute burst either side of the break by the rampant hosts.

Jordan Goddard fired Gloucester ahead in first-half stoppage-time before three goals in six minutes at the start of the second period from Darren Edwards, Will Morford and Lewis Hogg effectively ended the contest.

City were in danger of suffering their heaviest loss of the season but rallied with goals from captain Rob Elvins and Kyle Patterson’s first for the club.

There was little sign of the second-half drama to come when Goddard broke the deadlock, particularly as only Blue Square Bet North basement boys Hinckley had scored fewer goals at home this term than Gloucester.

But only three minutes had elapsed after the break when the Tigers doubled their lead.

Hogg found plenty of space on the left and his shot was parried by keeper Matt Sargeant straight to Edwards for a tap-in.

Things went from bad to worse four minutes later when Morford latched on to the ball, again on the left flank, and lifted it over the advancing keeper from a tight angle.

The Tigers had a fourth in the 54th minute, Hogg taking advantage of yet more space on the left to sweep a fine shot beyond the grasp of Sargeant.

Right-back Tyler Weir was hauled off soon after as part of a double substitution that also saw new signing Ashley Sammons replaced, with Stuart Whitehead and Matt Breeze introduced.

City, who lost 3-1 at Whaddon Road on the opening day of 2012, were given a glimmer of hope in the 62nd minute when Elvins’ shot looped up off a defender and under Mike Green’s bar.

Patterson turned home a second from Danny Glover’s nod-down eight minutes from time.

The visitors, who had Ellis Deeney, Whitehead and Patterson booked late on, refused to lie down and Tom Thorley struck the post during five minutes of injury-time.

As on Boxing Day, Worcester had chances during a relatively low-key opening period and might have led before Goddard pounced.

Glover, starting his first game since the FA Cup defeat at Bromley in October, was their driving force with his pace at the focal point of a three-pronged attack.

On one occasion, he outstripped three defenders to meet Elvins’ hopeful hoof forward, then burst into the box and brought a fine save from Green.

At the other end, Bagasan Graham was denied on the line by Sargeant before Goddard got the ball rolling.

City: Sargeant 6, Weir 5 (Whitehead 57, 6), Deeney 6, Thorley 6, Rowe 6, Hutchison 7, Sammons 5 (Breeze 57, 6), Elvins 7, Symons 5 (Taylor 65, 7), Glover 7*, Patterson 7. Subs not used: Reece, Thompson.

Attendance: 640.