WORCESTER City welcome Tividale to the Victoria Ground this weekend as the Blue and Whites make a return to league action after their cup campaign once again made the headlines.
Extra time was not enough to separate the City and Atherstone Town with the 1-1 drawing meaning a replay at the Victoria Ground tonight (Wednesday).
Victory in the replay would earn Ash Vincent’s men a ‘home’ game with second favourites Consett on February 29 and leave them three games away from a day out at Wembley and a shot at the £30,000 on offer for the winners of the competition.
City forced a replay on Saturday at the Mark Webster Community Stadium cheered on by a large travelling support as a 70th-minute close range strike from Marco Adaggio cancelled out an Atherstone goal from Josh Ruff in the first half.
City started quickly with an early long range effort from Liam Lockett before an Adaggio half-volley was tipped around the post by Atherstone keeper Carl O’Neill.
The home side’s first real chance did not come until the half hour when a shot from Sam Belcher was saved by Dan Jezeph.
Just before the break Atherstone took the lead when a through ball from Belcher to Ruff on the far right of the box did not look like it was going anywhere but, despite being surrounded by three City players, he was able to get a shot away, which took a deflection off Jamie Smith and looped over Jezeph into the net.
City made two changes at the break with Jamie Smith and Luke Rowe being replaced by Dan Okojie and Jordan Harrison and went back on the front foot.
Keeper O’Neill received a yellow card after colliding with Adaggio on the edge of the box and from the resulting free kick tipped Lockett’s low drive around the post.
On 70 minutes City drew level. A long throw by Luke English was headed on by Harrison then headed to the edge of the box by Adders striker Joe Oji straight into the path of Lockett, whose volley was parried away into the path of Adaggio who smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
City were reduced to ten men on 85 minutes when Kurtis Mewies was shown a straight red for a dangerous tackle but the home side were unable to take advantage.