8:30am Wednesday 3rd February 2010
SEEING such a large crowd at St George’s Lane for the FA Trophy match against Kidderminster Harriers on Monday was fantastic.
It has been a few years since Worcester City had support like that and it was certainly good to see the fans back in the ground.
Playing the football to keep them returning is what we have got to strive for now because there’s no reason why we can’t have regular four-figure gates if we do well.
When I first came to the club we were getting those sort of attendances on a regular basis and this club is one of only a few at this level that can see an increase of 200-300 fans overnight.
They all want to watch a winning side and entertaining football and I am sure we will keep improving.
There were plenty of positives to take from the match into the rest of the season, even though we lost 1-0. We battled with a side who are doing well in the division above us and if we had taken our chances and defended their goal a bit better we could easily be in the next round.
On reflection I thought we were very unlucky to lose the game and deserved another crack at it with a replay. I think we learnt about the fine margins involved with football because you have to take the chances when you get them.
Kidderminster also got crosses in too easily and we have got to defend the ball better in the box.
I think there’s no doubt this group of lads work very hard and give everything they have got and Monday night was no exception. Harriers will be relieved to be in the next round.
Now we head to Havant and Waterlooville in Blue Square South on Saturday. It’s a tough trip down there but we have got loads of positives to take from the three games I have been in charge and I am confident we can acquit ourselves well.
We have seven games to play in both league and cup before the end of the month, five of which are at St George’s Lane, and I anticipate using the whole squad.
There are 18 players and admittedly it’s been a pretty settled side of late, but the players who have not been getting a shirt need to be ready because I won’t be able to use the same team with our schedule.
When the likes of Gary Walker and Matt Dinsmore get their opportunity they have got to prove to me they are worthy of keeping their place in the team.
Following the Havant match, we play Kidderminster again on Monday, this time in the Worcestershire Senior Cup. It’s another local derby and we want to win those games.
It’s an opportunity to win a trophy but it’s also a chance for fringe players to stake a claim for a starting berth without threatening our prospects of progressing in the competition because we want to get to the final.
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