Match-winner Merrett helps Worcester women recover (From Worcester News)

Match-winner Merrett helps Worcester women recover

2:00pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in Sport

WORCESTER women beat Burton 3-2 in Midlands Hockey League Division One thanks to a Lucy Merrett winner despite going two goals down.

With two minutes to go until the break, Merrett slotted Sarah Baggs’ pass home and Philly Roberts hammered in a second-half equaliser before they secured their first win of the season.

The seconds stormed to a 5-1 victory for their second successive success over Stourport thirds in Worcestershire League Division One.

Elaine Sheppard and Helen Barnes gave them the half-time initiative before the former finished off a good move in the second period.

Clare Hayes and Libby Wycherley dispatched short corners to complete the scoring with Rosie Lewis replying for their Worcestershire rivals.

Meanwhile, Worcester men gained a valuable point from a 1-1 draw at well-organised North Staffs in ENER-G Midlands League Division One. New coach Imran Yousaf notched his first Worcester goal with a low shot into the bottom corner from a short corner, levelling with the last hit of the match.

The visitors found themselves behind on only two minutes after an uncharacteristic loose pass from Rob Riddell cost them.

But Worcester played steady hockey and the defence held firm with James Cosh particularly tackling well.

The hosts were also strong at the back in the second period and broke forward to force a rare save from keeper James Gerrish.

Steve Howard went close before Yousaf swooped for Worcester, who host King’s Heath Pickwick at the University of Worcester on Saturday.

The seconds suffered the first defeat of their Midlands Division One season at home to Rugby and East Warks, going down 4-2.

Although the hosts were way below-par, they still matched their opponents in most areas but were 3-0 behind by the interval to well-worked short-corner routines.

Skipper Matt Hooper fired the team up during the break and there was more urgency in Worcester’s play.

Rugby added a fourth, though, in controversial fashion before Worcester rallied through Hooper’s close-range finish and in-form Jeremy Drake’s goal from a tight angle.

The thirds lost 4-1 at Lichfield in the West Midlands Premier but the fourths beat their Stourport counterparts 2-1.

Worcester fifths faced their sixths in Central League South West Division One and won 3-0 through Jack Townsend, Ed Brown and an own goal but only kept a clean sheet due to keeper James Hurley.

Ben Brown was on target as the eighths lost 8-1 to Hampton-in-Arden in a friendly, while the sevenths fell 3-2 at Solihull Blossomfield fourths.

Worcester beat Bournville 4-1 in the England Under 18s Cup second round with Chris Pedrick, Dan Ferrier, Ben Cooke and 14-year-old Callum Stanley on target.

Worcester Badgers Pippins lost 2-0 to Coventry and North Warwicks despite a battling display and the clearances of Jack Walton in goal.

But the Potters stormed to a 7-0 success over Evesham with Rory Simons and Hugo Davies firing hat-tricks alongside a debut effort from William Randall.