CENTRAL defender Graham Hutchison reckons it should come as no surprise that Worcester City were able to go toe-to-toe with Scunthorpe United.

It is often said by pundits and fans alike that non-league teams come up short in the fitness stakes against full-time opposition.

There is a perception that, because semi-professional teams only train twice a week, they will tire in the latter stages of matches against sides who train every day of the week.

But City rubbished that theory by defeating Coventry City 2-1 at the Ricoh Arena and taking Scunthorpe to a replay and subsequent penalty shoot-out.

On each occasion, there was nothing to choose between Carl Heeley’s men and the League One clubs when it came to stamina.

Hutchison says that is no fluke and is down to pure hard graft away from the pitch.

“We’re young lads and do a lot of work ourselves during the week,” the 21-year-old said.

“We put the work in behind the scenes and people think that just because we’re a part-time team that we’re not going to be as fit – but we all go to the gym as well.

“We work out and it shows we can compete with these teams at this level.

“When we played Scunthorpe at their place, a few of the lads didn’t train all week.

“I was out with a bit of a calf strain so was off my feet all week but turned up on the Saturday and ended up playing amazingly.”

City’s staying power is certainly going to be put to the test with a hectic Christmas programme, which sees them play six games in 15 days, starting with tomorrow’s Conference North trip to Stalybridge Celtic (3pm).

  • A marathon penalty shoot-out victory saw Drakes Broughton Rangers beat Martley Spurs 21-20 to reach the Worcester League’s Bernard Finnegan Cup quarter-final.

Only three penalties were missed of the 46 taken.

The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.