Worcester are the champions! (From Worcester News)

Worcester are the champions!

8:20am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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AFTER a nervous two-hour wait, Worcester were crowned champions of the Midlands Women’s Premier Division.

They claimed a 2-1 home victory over Harborne, but had to wait for the result of the late push-back between Kettering and Towcester before they could celebrate their promotion.

If Kettering had won, Worcester would have faced a season-deciding final game this weekend, but Towcester held on for a draw, which left the city side able to break open the champagne.

Harborne started well and took the lead from a short corner after 13 minutes. Stout defence then saw the visitors maintain their advantage until the interval.

However, the second-half saw Worcester return to their usual strong and determined play and Elaine Shepperd and Charlotte Roberts were pushed up front in a bid to seal the crucial win.

The umpires issued a yellow card to both sides but, with just nine minutes left, home captain Rachel Creese converted a short corner.

Shepperd found substitute Sade Gerald with a fine pass and the latter slotted home the vital goal.

The men’s firsts are fifth in Midlands Division One after an 8-2 rout over struggling Sikh Union (Nottingham).

Chris Perry and Steven Howard both bagged braces in the thrashing, while there were also goals for Josh White, Stuart Cunnington, Nick Hume and Chris Kendall.

Mundeep Sagoo scored both goals for the visitors.

The fourths continued their miserable season at Nottingham University where they suffered a 5-1 defeat.

Nottingham are the only side Worcester have beaten this season, but they gained revenge in fine style.

Matt Wilson scored the consolation for the already-relegated visitors.

The sixths also endured a tough day as they were on the wrong end of an 8-1 stuffing at Bournville Fourths.

Worcester were always on the back foot, conceding five goals in the first-half then three in the second as the title-chasers coasted home. The visitors managed a consolation strike through Shipley.

Worcester Badgers Pippens travelled to Stourport and came away with a 2-1 success.

A typical Pippens side took on a strong team at Stourport, but shocked their hosts with an opportunistic Alex Wagner goal with less than a minute played.

After 15 minutes, another good move led to Worcester’s second goal, which was converted by Edward Brown from close range.

At half-time, Stourport brought on two senior players which made it more difficult for the visitors.

The hosts scored from a short-corner routine and the Worcester side ended up fortunate winners when Stourport missed a penalty stroke in the last minute.

The Badgers Potters included five under 12s in their side but still claimed a fine 3-1 victory against Bournville.

Zach Dunn was the hero for the Worcester side with a hat-trick.

The game was full of open play and good passing moves and Dunn struck twice to put the Potters 2-0 up at the break.

Although Bournville brought on one of their senior players for the second-half, the Potters continued to hold their own.

Dunn completed his treble before the Birmingham side grabbed a late consolation.