Redditch United 0-0 Worcester City (4-5)
Worcestershire Senior Cup
Jonny Bonell reports from The Valley
IT WASN’T quite the record breaking FA Cup penalty shoot out, but Worcester City did have to endure the dreaded spot-kicks once more in this evenings Worcestershire Senior Cup semi-final with Redditch.
But this time Carl Heeley’s men came out on top as Ryan Boot made the decisive save from Calum Flanagan at 5-4 to book a final date with Kidderminster Harriers.
Redditch may feel hard done by after a gritty and determined performance, not aided by Joel Caines’ red card ten minutes before the end, had seen them take the Conference North outfit all the way.
Both sides had chances to win the game in normal time but it was Worcester who held their nerve to send their near-neighbours packing.
In a subdued and quiet opening, despite City controlling the early possession, it was the hosts who were first to have a sniff at the opposition goal after 20 minutes when Luke Shearer played in Courtney Baker-Richardson and his curled effort was well palmed away by Boot.
Jacob Rowe was on hand to react quickest to the loose ball and take it away from the on-rushing Shearer.
And just a minute later Worcester came closer still when Micah Evans easily beat Caines down the right and set up a cross for Nick Wright. The striker rose highest to meet the ball but his looping header was cleared off the line by James Mutton.
The visitors were all too aware of the dangers posed by ‘the underdog’ in cup competitions this season, having stunned higher league opponents over the course of the campaign, but it was lowly Redditch who were seemingly asking all the questions.
Rowe put in another vital block when Baker-Richardson looked odds on to score, Liam Spink fired narrowly wide from outside the box and Shearer hit a tame effort straight at Boot when he should have tested the on-loan keeper.
Having ended the first period on the back foot, the Blue and Whites came out with a renewed sense of desire as Sean Geddes took aim from 25-yards and was only denied by a finger-tip save from Bradley Catlow.
Catlow was at it again after 65 minutes when captain Ellis Deeney hit a drive from the edge of the box United’s stopper tipped the ball away before he could only watch as Deeney then drilled a strike marginally past then post.
The hosts’ task was made even more difficult with just over ten minutes to go when left back Caines was handed a second yellow card and his marching orders by referee Chris Husband for a foul on substitute Tristan Dunkley.
But a gritty Redditch dug in for the remainder of the cup tie and with 90 minutes unable to split the pair it was taken to penalties.
And it was on-loan keeper Boot, who saved a penalty in the victory at Colwyn Bay at the weekend, who was the hero once more as he superbly denied Redditch captain Flanagan to send Worcester through 5-4.