Saturday 19 April 2003 - St Georges Lane - kick off 3.00pm
Dr Martens Premier Division
half-time: 1-1 result: L1-2 attendance: ?
team: Bryant, James (Bennett 77), Coupe, Kemp (c), Honor, Rollo, Gosling (Milsom 80), Harvey, Eaton (Cleverley 75), Tweddle, Shore. subs not used: Jefferies.
man of the match: Gary Kemp
scorers: Harvey (31)
bookings: Shore (18), Honor (49), Harvey (75)
officials: I Batchelor (Bicester), M Hancock (Tipton), P Hobday (Tipton)
league position: 9th form: LWDLDW next match: Weymouth (H)
The last time City faced Worcester City and came away as the losing side their consolation goal was scored by Tony Ricketts. This happened on Saturday 12 October 1991 and saw the Midlands side record a shock 2-1 FA Cup victory over then Conference side City. Nine times the sides had met since that day, most famously (for City, at least) on the final day of last season when Adrian Foster's goal helped City to a 1-0 victory that secured their Premier Division status. This time there was no such prize resting on the outcome of the match with City safely mid-table and Worcester's title hopes long since faded after a promising start to the season. Despite this low-key nature the sides produced an entertaining game that could have gone either way before the home side clinched victory midway through the second half.

With Andy Williams missing and Paul Milsom and Frankie Bennett only fit enough for places on the bench City made three changes to the side that beat Grantham a week before. Chris Honor made his first start since December - Iain Harvey moving into midfield to accommodate him. Jamie Gosling was restored in midfield and Jason Eaton replaced Dan Cleverley up front alongside Steve Tweddle. After an uneventful opening 13 minutes City were gifted a great opportunity to open the scoring. Snape's unnecessary tug on Tweddle's shirt was spotted by the referee and a penalty was the outcome. Tweddle's spot kick was well struck but McDonnell dived full-length to his right to turn the ball away for a corner. The resultant set-piece from Stuart James found the head of the penalty taker only for the post to deny him on this occasion. Two minutes later the home side took full advantage of this double escape. A high ball into the box dropped to Shail 15 yards out. His shot crashed against the bar and, for the second game running, a rebound fell unkindly for City and Hadley headed home. Before the next opening for either side they were both lucky to keep eleven players on the pitch. Drew Shore's two-footed challenge on Snape and Wilde's retalitory punch at James only earned yellow when red would not have been harsh. Mark Bryant was called into action after 26 minutes, pushing Middleton's cross-shot to safety, and six minutes later City levelled. Another James corner caused havoc in the Worcester box and Harvey's low shot found the net to record his first goal of the season. Before the interval Tweddle almost broke clear of the Worcester rearguard only for ex-City star Jon Holloway to recover and deny him a shooting chance.

The second period started much like the first with both sides struggling to get the upper hand. An optimistic 20-yard shot by Hadley was easily held by Bryant but on 67 minutes he was powerless to stop the hosts regaining the lead. A City attack was broken up by Snape and the ball eventually found its way to Carty wide left. He advanced forward before releasing Wilde who slid a shot past Bryant into the corner of the net. City threw on Milsom, Bennett and Cleverley in the space of five minutes in an attempt to find a way back level only to find McDonnell in excellent form. Twice he was equal to firmly hit shots by Jim Rollo and Shore with Cleverley on hand to take advantage of any mistake. Tweddle couldn't keep his shot down after a neat turn in between these efforts and also saw another chance fly over the bar after Gary Kemp's initial shot had been charged down. This was to be the last chance leaving the home side to celebrate the end of an 11-year search for success against City.