Thomas strike sees City pick up first win of 2015 - The Worcester Observer

Thomas strike sees City pick up first win of 2015

Worcester Editorial 27th Jan, 2015 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

Worcester City 1-0 Oxford City

Vanarama Conference North

Jonny Bonell reports from Aggborough

Attendance: 392




WHEN Worcester City were beaten at arch-rivals Gloucester City nine days ago, manager Carl Heeley questioned where his side’s confidence had gone.

And in the first half of their encounter with Oxford City on Tuesday (January 27) that confidence seemed to be deserting them once more.


But a much-improved Worcester put in a gritty and determined performance after the break to secure a deserved 1-0 victory and gain their first win of 2015.

Wayne Thomas was the unlikely Aggborough hero on the hour with a well taken volley as the Blue and Whites leapfrogged their opponents into 11th place.

Manager Heeley said: “It wasn’t a classic game by any stretch, it was very tight but I thought we shaded it chances wise and all that really matters is grinding out and winning the game.

“I thought ten minutes before the break we finally came to life and started imposing ourselves a little bit because I thought Oxford had probably shaded the possession up to then but we had a couple of opportunities and probably should have done better.

“I thought the improvement continued in the second half and to nick the win in the end was a great plus for us.”

A lacklustre opening 20 minutes saw just a solitary effort on target when Shab Khan illegally halted Declan Benjamin’s run in from the right, Tom Winters took the resulting free-kick but his 20-yard strike was straight at Jose Veiga.

In truth it was an uninspiring game between two sides who harboured outside play-off chances ahead of the encounter, but did little to show they would be in the shake-up when May arrives.

It was another ten minutes until the next effort was registered as Benjamin’s scuffed effort from outside the box rolled into Veiga’s arms. That was followed by a wild Aaron Brown strike which flew past the post.

With ten minutes of the half remaining the hosts raised their game and should have gone into the break at least a goal to the good.

Brown chipped the ball over Salva De La Cruz but Paul Stonehouse was there to clear inside the six-yard box before former Oxford striker Mike Symons smashed his shot past the post from just six-yards out.

Heeley brought on Tristan Dunkley for Brown less than five minutes into the second period and the change of pace and energy seemed to spark his side into life as Sean Geddes first curled a free-kick narrowly over before Symons fierce strike was tipped over the top by De La Cruz.

The breakthrough did come for the hosts on the hour mark but it was through an unlikely source as veteran defender Thomas bagged his first goal of the campaign.

Geddes’ corner was flicked on by Daniel Nti into the path of Thomas who cushioned his volley back across the face of goal and into the far corner.

Worcester went for the jugular and could have added two in the next two minutes as first Connor Gater drilled just wide and then Nti hit a speculative 30-yard lob which beat the Oxford stopped but landed on the roof of the net.

Visiting substitute Javi Rodriuguez had the pick of the chances for Justin Merritt’s side when he shot past the post from the edge of the box and blazed a free-kick over from inside the D but it wasn’t to be for Oxford who tasted their fourth consecutive defeat.

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