‘PROUD as punch’ Worcester City chief Chris Cornes hailed the togetherness of his side after the Blue and Whites recorded back-to-back victories for the first time since October.
City make the trip to the Black Country on Saturday (February 4) to face a Tividale side sitting seven points above them in the Midland Premier Division looking to make it a hat-trick of victories.
A goal from Kyonn Evans with nearly 20 minutes left handed City a 1-0 success at Bewdley Town on Saturday just three days after a 2-0 win over basement boys Market Drayton Town.
Even a debatable red card for City’s Jordan Stoddart couldn’t take the shine off a ‘brilliant’ defensive display, according to Cornes.
Both the referee and linesman were in agreement Stoddart was worthy of a straight red card following an aerial challenge.
“The sending-off is poor, I don’t think it’s a sending-off but we have just got to get on with that,” the City gaffer said.
“For the last 15 minutes I thought the lads dug in, Lorcan [Sheehan] went into centre-half and was brilliant and I thought as keeper and back four we were on it from the get-go.
“With what we have on the pitch we should be scoring two or three goals but overall a good performance.”
Cornes praised his side for controlling the game at Ribbesford Meadow and said the togetherness in the camp had ‘gone through the roof’
“It’s nice to put back to back wins together and you can see a little bit of confidence and belief now coming out of the lads,” the City manager added.
Meanwhile Hellenic League leaders Malvern Town will look to stretch their 13-match unbeaten run with the visit of Chipping Sodbury Town to the HDAnywhere Community Stadium on Saturday (February 4).
The Hillsiders booked their place in the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup semi-finals last midweek with a 2-0 win at home to Westfields.
After a goalless period last Tuesday, Malvern had the perfect start to the second half when Adam Sauntson powerfully headed home a corner.
Westfields threatened a comeback but the Hillsiders struck their second with 20 minutes left, Joe Bates applying a smart finish.
Having beaten fellow promotion chasers Cribbs 2-1 in their previous Hellenic League Premier Division fixture, Malvern had no game last weekend but second-placed Bristol side Cribbs beat
Tuffley Rovers 5-0 to move within two points, with two matches in hand.
The Hillsiders have been unbeaten in the league since a 2-0 reverse to Wantage Town in late October.
Worcester Raiders will look to bounce back from defeat at Roman Glass St George when Mangotsfield United are the visitors to Sixways on Saturday (February 4).
A late Louis Monaghan goal wasn’t enough to stave off defeat after skipper Ollie Woodhouse and Josh Williams netted for the Bristol hosts at Oaklands Park.
Despite the defeat, Karl Gormley’s men remain in third place in the Hellenic League Premier standings