Match report: Highgate United 1-2 Worcester City

There was a notable omission from the Blues touchline in the form of manager Tim Harris, Craig Jones and Mike Fowler taking on the reigns in his absence.

There was also a new addition for the playing side with Jude Hill joining from Kidderminster Harriers.

The win see’s City leapfrog Lye Town to fifth place in the Midlands Football League Premier.

City were without manager Tim Harris for the trip to Highgate

City had the first opportunity to go ahead, Ben Tilbury’s edge of the box effort easily claimed by the Highgate keeper Reece Francis with ten minutes gone.

However, it didn’t take the visitors long to take the lead.

After latching on to a cross from Reiss Taylor-Randle, Callum Debar was pulled down right on the edge of the box.

Archie Muirhead calmly took the resulting freekick, rounding the wall to send the ball into the bottom corner with quarter of an hour played.

City nearly extender their lead two minutes later when Bekir Halil picked out Muirhead at the front post, his effort going agonisingly wide.

Before the half was over City found themselves with another golden opportunity, Taylor-Randle’s cross once again finding Muirhead who cut inside to set up Chinedu Osadebe.

Unfortunately, Osadebe’s effort did little to trouble the Highgate keeper.

In the dying minutes of the half the hosts saw a penalty claim turned down when Luke Shearer appeared to trip himself up in the City box and so it was the visitors who went in at the break the happier of the sides.

Highgate started much brighter in the second half, winning a penalty with 54 minutes gone when Shearer took a tumble after going shoulder-to-shoulder with Debar, Gate’s number nine stepped up to slot home the spot kick.

Halil looked to hand City the lead once more as he took on the free kick won by Sam Whitton, but his curling effort soared high over the bar.

Straight after Highgate pressed the City defence who stood strong before Fortune Maphosa ws able to launch the ball deep into the opposition half.

Muirhead was able to win the ball before playing inside to Tilbury who quickly offloaded to Taylor-Randle who cut inside before shooting from the edge of the box, the ball taking a bobble as it passed Francis and into the back of the net.

The hosts continued to press but were unable to get back in to the game, leaving the Blues to come back to Claines Lane with all three points.