Worcester City 3-1 Redditch United
Worcestershire Senior Cup Final
Jonny Bonell reports from the Victoria Ground
SILVERWARE doesn’t often come as early as July but that is exactly what Worcester City got their hands on today (Saturday) as they beat Redditch United in the Senior Cup Final.
Goals from Daniel Nti, a stunner from Sean Geddes and a late Tristian Dunkley strike sealed the trophy for Carl Heeley and Matt Gardiner’s men.
A Luke Shearer penalty had brought the Reds level in the first half but Worcester’s quality eventually told as they saw off their near neighbours.
It was a lively opening to proceedings and after United’s Liam Spink had ballooned an effort high and wide of Nathan Vaughan’s goal, Worcester took the lead with their first half-chance.
Just six minutes had lapsed when Geddes whipped in the kind of free-kick a striker dreams of, and the striker arriving was Nti who got the slightest touch to divert the ball past Josh Morten.
The Southern Premier side were far from overawed by their higher league opposition and had two golden opportunities to equalise as Jamey Osborne’s close range effort was well saved by Vaughan before Shearer’s downward header went harmlessly wide.
Redditch’s equaliser did come after 17 minutes, however, when Osborne’s free-kick was handled in the box the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Shearer confidently stepped up to send Vaughan the wrong way.
There was plenty of desire on show at the Victoria Ground, used in place of the unfit Aggborough, even if there was a feel of a pre-season friendly as the midway point of the half rolled past.
But with virtually the last kick of the half, Geddes showed the quality that captured the attention of so many last season. The talented attacker watched as Nti’s effort was well blocked and he picked up the re-bound and rifled home a volley from 20-yards.
Worcester started the second period the way they ended the first with Kieran Morris’ long-range strike forcing Morten into an early save and Nti’s effort fizzing over the top of the bar.
Trialist Ashley Vincent was brought on for the hard-working Ryan Rowe after 55 minutes and almost made an immediate impact but his glancing header drifted just past the post.
The National League North outfit’s experience showed as the half wore on and just as the game seemed to be destined for 2-1, substitute Dunkly raced onto an Ellis Deeney through ball and delicately chipped the ball over Morten to put the game to bed.
Vicent could have added a fourth moments later as his powerful strike was well kept out but it was irrelevant as the whistle blew two minutes later and Worcester sealed the Senior Cup.