Vanarama National League North
Jonny Bonell reports from St James’ Park
Attendance: 273
ST JAMES’ Park has not been a happy hunting ground for Worcester City in recent seasons.
Before today, Worcester’s last three away trips to Brackley Town and yielded no wins and had also seen them fail to score in any of those outings.
So it was no surprise to see the Saints come out on top of this afternoons clash thanks to a goal in each half, from Steve Diggin and Pablo Mills.
The game offered little as an attacking spectacle, but Brackley got the job done and condemned the Blue and Whites to their third straight defeat – leaving them just a point and a place above the National League North drop zone.
There was not much to shout about in an opening 20 minutes which saw striker Ryan Rowe leave the pitch injured after just 20 minutes on his first return to St James’ Park since switching from Brackley to Worcester in the summer.
Sean Geddes did have a shot blocked for the visitors and Sam Whittle headed wide for Town but it wasn’t until the 27th minute that either side registered a significant chance – and subsequently the opening goal.
Sam Miniham rolled the ball to Kieran Morris but the Worcester defender’s clearance was charged down on the edge of his own box by Diggin. The industrious striker still had a lot of work to do but clipped a lovely effort past Nathan Vaughan to put the Saints ahead.
Worcester did grow into the game as the half wore on and the lively Daniel Nti looked a threat when he curled an effort over the top before Tyler Weir’s fierce 25-yard drive flew just above Dan Crane’s goal.
As with the first half, nothing could split the two sides in the opening 20 minutes, but – once more – as with the first half it was an individual error which made City’s task of getting anything from the game even harder.
Glenn Walker’s in-swinging corner went straight through the hands of Vaughan and Mills was there to head home and double the hosts’ advantage.
It just wasn’t happening for Worcester and – despite Tyler Weir driving through the heart of the Brackley midfield and dragging a shot wide – their frustration was summed up as the full-back’s strike from the edge of the box sliced well wide.
Danny Jackman and Sean Geddes both went close late on but there was no consolation and Worcester’s wait for a goal at St James’ Park stretched to four games.