City earn point at Gainsborough in season opener - The Worcester Observer

City earn point at Gainsborough in season opener

Worcester Editorial 8th Aug, 2015 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

Gainsborough Trinity 1-1 Worcester City

Vanarama National League North

Jonny Bonell reports from Northolme

Attendance: 402




FOR LARGE parts of last season Worcester City’s achilles heel was their inability to finish games off when they had the chances.

And in their National League North opener against Gainsborough Trinity today (Saturday) that problem was evident once again.


City’s slick pass-and-move game eventually counted for just a solitary point as they were held 1-1 at Northolme – in a game they dominated from the first whistle.

Worcester wasted a hatful of chances before Ryan Rowe deservedly poked them ahead after 65 minutes, only for Gainsborough substitute Darryn Stamp to cancel it out when he headed home with nine minutes to go.

The day ended on a sour note for Kieran Morris – making his first league start – after he was sent for an early bath following two yellow cards.

After a slow start it was the visitors – who were fielding six league debutants – who started to boss the game as two of those new men, George Nash and then Rowe, both went close to opening the deadlock.

Rowe again came close moments later as his acrobatic volley drifted past the post before Nash took aim from range but was denied by Jan Budtz.

In truth, it was a 25 minutes to forget for Trinity who were largely being outplayed by their Vanarama North rivals and had only a Nathan Vaughan handball to shout about. The City keeper was given a yellow card for the infringement.

The failure to hit the back of the net has long been Worcester’s problem and it was showcased again here as they continued to dominate the game but with no end product. Captain Ellis Deeney and Darren Campion both hit efforts over the top when well placed.

It was much the same as the second period got underway and Budtz kept his side in it after 55 minutes when he somehow tipped Rowe’s effort behind after a swift City counter.

Rowe again found himself with the chance to open his and Worcester’s account for the season thanks to neat interplay between Tyler Weir and Sean Geddes, but the summer signing from Brackley prodded wide from just inside the six-yard box.

Ashley Vincent came on for Daniel Nti after 62 minutes and the former Shrewsbury striker made an instant impact as he rolled his man and delivered the perfect cross for Rowe who made this one count and tapped home to put the Blue and Whites ahead.

Trinity sensed the game wasn’t lost and following a frantic spell of Worcester defending, substitute Stamp climbed highest to head home Simon Russell’s corner with nine minutes remaining to earn his side a point.

There was more to come, however, as Morris was pulled up by the ref for an innocuous looking challenge and awarded a second yellow card with just seconds remaining.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Worcester Observer newspaper.

Recruitment

Find a career you'll love with our free career finder website.

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Worcester Observer.