City aiming to reach FA Cup first round - The Worcester Observer

City aiming to reach FA Cup first round

Worcester Editorial 25th Oct, 2014 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

ALL EYES will be on Aggborough tomorrow (Sunday) when Worcester City aim to reach the FA Cup first round for the first time in almost a decade.

The Blue and Whites take on Greenwich Borough at their temporary home in the fourth qualifying round having claimed the scalps of Rugby Town and, at the second time of asking, Leamington to reach this stage.

Not since Andy Preece oversaw City’s 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield at St George’s Lane in December 2005 have they reached the first round proper of the country’s most prestigious cup competition.

Carl Heeley’s side go into the game high in confidence having lost just once in their last seven outings and securing four successes out of six.




The Worcester boss should have a fully-fit squad at his disposal ahead of the game, with Tristan Dunkley (shoulder) and Mike Symons (back) both featuring in training this week.

In a bid to avoid Saturday’s goalkeeping incident – where Wayne Thomas was drafted in between the sticks for 89 minutes – Heeley has brought in Chris Gemmell as temporary cover.


Greenwich, meanwhile, arrive in Kidderminster on the back of 11 straight wins, with five of those coming in the FA Cup, dating back to August 16 when they beat Lancing 2-1.

The South East Counties League side then went on to beat St Francis Rangis 5-2, in which Lewis Wood scored all five, Chessington & Hook United 1-0, Beaconsfield 3-1 and Redhill 1-0 to get to this point.

They are one of just three teams left in the ninth tier of English football and made club history by reaching the Fourth Qualifying Round.

Ahead of the game manager Heeley said: “You would look at the game and say that is a game we should be winning, and we should be winning, but Greenwich Borough need respecting.

“We will watch them and do our preparation and the one thing I can guarantee is that when that Worcester City team go out on that pitch on Sunday afternoon, they will be focused and they will know what’s at stake.

“They’ve been in and around the FA Cup for a long time, you don’t need any more than ‘It’s the FA Cup’.

“You have got to be professional and we have been this season, we will be professional and I expect us to go and do the job. We will give them the respect they deserve, we won’t get sloppy on our work and do the job.”

Connor Gudger has gone out on loan for a month to Barwell to get game experience.

There will be a live blog for the game at www.worcesterobserver.co.uk online.

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