Saturday 20 September 2003 - St Georges Lane - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

The build-up to the match gave no indication of the carnage to come. The home side went into the game on the back of three successive defeats, whereas City could field their first unchanged starting line-up of the season. The same side that had so impressively beaten Stafford Rangers four days earlier. Even when Worcester took the lead in the 7th minute only the most pessimistic of City fans could have imagined what was to follow. The goal did set the tone for City’s defensive display though as Foy’s corner was volleyed in from six yards out by an unmarked Heeley. Ten minutes later City fell further behind and it was through another piece of woeful defending. A City attack broke down and the ball was hammered clear into their half by Webster. Jim Rollo seemed to be in control but with Mark Bryant advancing out of his area the two players got in each others way and Kelly was given the simplest of tap-ins. The way City’s confidence visibly drained away after this was frightening and suddenly Worcester was cutting through them with ease. Wilde shot just wide and then saw Bryant save well from his curling shot. The third goal arrived on 29 minutes as former City star Jon Holloway took advantage of more poor marking at a corner to head home. A rare City attack three minutes later ended with Adam Howarth heading Drew Shore’s corner over the bar. Within 60 seconds City were four down. Andy Williams should have disposed Wilde but the Worcester winger rode the challenge before laying the ball off to Heeley. He placed a shot past Bryant from 12 yards out. Bryant prevented Kelly making it five before the interval with a brave block.

In a vain attempt to produce the comeback of the century City made two changes at half-time, debutants Tom Ramasut and Graham Cheeseman replacing Alex Sykes and Mark Salter, but before the game was an hour old City had conceded another two goals. Bryant had already denied Foy and Hendy cleared Wilde’s effort of the line, but on 58 minutes Kelly easily strode past three half-hearted challenges to place a shot under City’s exposed keeper. Two minutes later Kelly was at it again brushing off City defenders with ease before setting up Heeley for his hat-trick from close range. With a half hour remaining the odds were on the home side approaching double figures, however for a thirty minute period City finally managed to stem the tide. This was largely due to the one player in red to come out of the game with any credit, former Worcester midfielder Mitch Counsell. Even at this stage he never stopped running and tackling and a couple of long range efforts could have grabbed City a consolation goal. Fittingly though it was Worcester who had the final word to ensure it would be City’s worse defeat for over thirty years. Howarth’s clumsy challenge on Kelly in the 89th minute allowed Wilde to whip in a free-kick that evaded everyone to find the corner of the net.

*With one exception as Simon Giles was born on that day.