Semi-final heartache for county (From Worcester News)

Semi-final heartache for county

6:00pm Tuesday 24th January 2012 in News

WORCESTERSHIRE’S hopes of reaching the FA County Youth Cup semi-finals for the first time since the 1990-91 season were dashed.

They suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of Wiltshire at a windy Swindon Supermarine.

The visitors opened brightly and went close when Adam Ward’s dangerous cross flashed across the six-yard box with no-one able to get a touch.

However, they were stunned when Wiltshire scored in the 12th minute as the otherwise impressive Tom Weaver dallied on the ball inside the penalty area.

When he was challenged, the ball broke for home skipper Shepherd to hit a rasping shot past keeper Josh Smith.

Play swung from end to end with James Schembri shooting wide when put through by Weaver and Shepherd seeing his header well saved by Smith.

Worcestershire were unlucky not to level in the 32nd minute when a well-worked free-kick found Schembri and his low shot was turned around the post by keeper Brown.

As half-time approached, Shepherd nearly doubled Wiltshire’s advantage when his header rebounded to safety off the post.

Tom Allard and Schembri went close to netting the equaliser that Worcestershire’s first-half display deserved.

With the wind behind them, Worcestershire started the second period on the front-foot with Schembri shooting over from a tight angle.

But Wiltshire continued to be dangerous on the break with Johns forcing a fine finger-tip save from Smith.

The visitors were unlucky not to level in the 72nd minute when Chris Smith threaded the ball through to Schembri but his shot struck the post.

With the clock ticking down, Worcestershire had to throw caution to the wind but were undone by a quick breakaway which saw Morse net the decisive second goal in the 86th minute.

Undeterred, Worcestershire reduced the arrears when substitute Jack Cullity’s low shot from the edge of the penalty area crept into the corner of the net.

Cullity’s effort then demanded an excellent save from Brown but Worcestershire’s fine run in the competition ended in disappointment after previous wins on the road against Northamptonshire (3-2) and Sussex (4-2).