Worcester City 2-3 Gloucester City
Vanarama National League North
Rob George reports from the Victoria Ground
WORCESTER City are still waiting for their first win of the season after two defensive howlers handed their Severn rivals all three points in this derby clash.
A hat trick from the visitors Luke Hopper sealed victory for Gloucester but in truth City masterminded their own downfall with two awful errors from centre back Sam Oji in the first 12 minutes of the second period.
A quiet opening to the game saw few chances for either side although Gloucester believed they should have a penalty in the 14th minute when Hopper was pulled down by Oji in the box.
Referee Simon Mather saw nothing wrong with the challenge but penalised City in the 19th minute with a free kick just outside the box.
The visitors Joe Hanks stepped up to take it and brought a smart save from Nick Draper in the City goal.
Carl Heeley’s men grew in confidence during the first half and forced their way into the game and a surging run forward from Ebby Nelson-Addy found Junior English on the left whose cross was deflected for a corner.
Joe Fitzpatrick’s corner was met by Oji with a powerful header just wide of the target with visiting keeper Jasbir Singh rooted to the spot.
Gloucester looked vulnerable to balls into the box and Colby Bishop headed wide moments later after a punt forward from Draper.
City’s best chance of the half came three minutes before the break when Bishop found Steven Craig with a through ball only for the debutant to blaze over the bar to leave it 0-0 at half time.
All of the good work was undone though less than two minutes into the second period when Oji scuffed his back pass to Draper allowing Hopper to nip in and calmly slot the ball home to hand the visitors the lead.
A shell-shocked City struggled to regain their composure and shot themselves in the foot 10 minutes later when Oji and skipper Graham Hutchinson dithered over clearing the ball again allowing Hopper to nip in and pinch his and his team’s second of the night.
A furious Carl Heeley brought on Lee Hughes and Jordan Murphy for Craig and Nelson-Addy in a bid to save the game and the offensive changes worked as City began to look threatening.
A cross from Cieron Keane saw Bishop head straight at Singh In the 72nd minute before the two subs combined with 10 minutes left as Murphy crossed for Hughes to head his third of the season and raise hopes of a City comeback.
Those hopes were dashed just three minutes later though as Hopper completed his hat-trick when a through ball from sub Calvin Dinsley found the striker who finished calmly to seal victory.
City thought they should have had a penalty with two minutes left when Bishop was hauled down and looked to have a case. The denial provoked an angry response from Heeley who berated the assistant referee following the decision and confronted the referee after the game.
Hughes pulled the ball back for Bishop to notch his first for the club in injury time but truth be told City’s defensive frailties once again cost them points in what was a pretty even game.
The Blue and Whites look to be a work in progress with so many new faces in the side but such silly mistakes are already costing them dear even after four games.
Heeley’s demeanour after the game was full of anger and frustration, it’s clear to see why.