6:20pm Sunday 2nd August 2009
By Steve Carley
JORDAN Fitzpatrick wrecked Worcester City’s preparation for the new season by getting himself sent off in the pre-season draw at Hinckley.
The midfielder was shown a straight red card for head-butting left-back Stuart Giddings, who scored the hosts’ goal, 11 minutes before half-time.
Fitzpatrick, who had been making a strong case to kick-off the season against Bromley on Saturday, now faces a three-match ban, further limiting manager Richard Dryden’s already meagre midfield options.
Shabir Khan might also have gone the same way shortly before the hour-mark when he grappled with James Mace and needed to be dragged away by players from both sides. That time, though, referee Tony Maton felt a chat was sufficient.
Poor discipline was City’s Achilles heel towards the end of last season and Dryden can ill afford that to rear its ugly head again with the size of the squad at his disposal.
Amid the doom and gloom of weather more akin to November, there were some positive points for the visitors, not least Kevin Spencer’s versatility in place of Graham Ward on the right.
Striker Martin Butler also played the whole game after committing himself to the St George’s Lane club, while Mark Clyde returned to the defence.
As expected, Dryden did not risk Ward’s hamstring and brought in keeper Richard Mace for Jake Meredith, who was nursing his shoulder but noticeably did not stand for the one minute silence in honour of Sir Bobby Robson.
Fitzpatrick partnered Gary Walker in the centre of midfield, with Craig Wilding not included in the squad.
The error count was high on a saturated Greene King Stadium surface and not even City’s orange shirts, borrowed from Hinckley because of a kit clash, could brighten proceedings early on.
Twice in the first 11 minutes, the hosts got in behind City’s defence but failed to take advantage. Firstly, Matt West sent former Worcester striker Adam Webster free but Mace was equal to the effort. Then, four minutes later, West sprinted clear but the keeper stood firm and blocked.
Aaron Moses-Garvey, starting his sixth consecutive pre-season game, fired wide and Spencer drilled a shot across goal but the visitors were second best.
With 26 minutes gone, former Team Bath midfielder Dan Dillon, a target for City in the close season, volleyed wide as Hinckley threatened.
Just three minutes later they were ahead as the visitors failed to deal with a cross from the right and Giddings headed home at the far post.
Webster headed tamely at Mace soon after but the game lost its momentum with constant interventions from the referee, although there were few complaints when Fitzpatrick got his marching orders.
City were much more lively at the start of the second-half and were back on level terms within seven minutes when Spencer curled a free-kick beyond the reach of Chris Mackenzie.
Marco Adaggio replaced Clyde midway through the half and Matt Dinsmore came on for Moses-Garvey five minutes later.
Butler, still short of full fitness following a virus and lack of game-time, showed glimpses of his ability in the second period.
The first corner did not arrive until the 78th minute and moments later Adaggio forced Mackenzie to tip over his shot on the turn.
Overall, City were not too bad, but they will need to be better when the Blue Square South season starts for real.
City: Mace, Spencer, Shabir, Clyde (Adaggio 67), Daniel, Kemp (c), Fitzpatrick, Walker, Butler, Elvins, Moses-Garvey (Dinsmore 72). Subs not used: Chaunbard, Connolly, Heeley, Dinsmore.
Attendance: 186.
Referee: Tony Maton (Oadby).
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk