Hello again to anyone who visits my Blog on a regular basis and apologies for the prolonged absence of activity over the last few weeks. Due to the bad weather and then other commitments I have not been able to see any games. However I managed to visit the Under 21 game at Heath Hayes this last Saturday to watch the academy side of Worcester City who run a side in conjunction with the Worcester College of Technology.
I thought about going to this game as I was meeting friends later on in Birmingham and after watching the Romulus team in the same division a few weeks previously, thought it would be a good opportunity to see a another game at this level and also see what the Worcester team was like after seeing in the Worcester press recently that the manager, Carl Heeley had been introducing players from the academy in to the first team squad, due to injuries and loan players departing. Indeed in the last game at Redditch United in the Worcs Senior Cup tie, the team had comprised of 7-8 players from the academy in the starting line up, which they subsequently lost 0-2 but had put up a good showing by all accounts.
As it was a 10:30am kick-off time I caught the 7:35am train from Worcester to New Street, Birmingham, then catching the train to Cannock and finally getting the No.32 bus from the local bus station which got me to the ground with 15 minutes to spare. It's a fine sunny morning but with a cold wind. Showers are expected this afternoon, so it's good that it's an early kick-off.
The Coppice Colliery Ground is to be found off Newlands Avenue. There is a drive which takes you down to the car park and a training pitch is located in front. You walk along the side of this to get to the ground itself. At the end nearest the entrance is raised piece of ground dividing the 2 pitches. On the side nearest the entrance are 3 small stands (2 with seats) and the changing room complex & toilets. The other 2 sides are bordered closely by woodland.
This is the first time I have visited this ground. I saw the floodlights from when I was travelling to a game at Chasetown a few weeks ago. It's also the first time I have seen both of the teams at Under 21 level too.
Before the game started I had a chat with one of the club staff, who told me that several of their Under-21 players were now appearing regularly in the first team. Since promotion to the Midland Alliance 2 seasons ago Heath Hayes have struggled to achieve stability in that League. So they are building the club's future with these young players.
Both Worcester & Heath Hayes are right next to each other in the league table (3rd and 4th respectively), so it promises to be a tight game.
When the teams come out on to the pitch, Heath Hayes are in their usual blue & white kit while Worcester are in their change strip of red & black.
Heath Hayes take an early lead in the 3rd minute when one of their players is played in down the left and deftly lobs the keeper for the first goal. I can hear Mark Owen, the Worcester coach barking out orders for his side to not be caught out again like that. A few minutes later though an almost identical move sees another lob coming in from the left but this time Worcester ride their luck and the ball hits the cross bar and out (as seen below).
Worcester begin to settle down after their let off and ten minutes later draw level. They win a free kick on the left and when the ball comes over, their centre-forward, James Lemon, flicks the ball in to the far corner with a great header. I have been impressed with his play so far and can see why he's knocking on the door of first team selection.
For the rest of the 1st half, Worcester just about shade it and it looks as if the game could go either way.
The attendance for today, I find out later on the league website is officially 25, although in the first half I make a quick head count and make it to be 15, so some extra people must have come in at half time I suppose.
The second half sees Worcester bossing the game and 10 minutes later, after a particularly slick move, their No.11, Joao Sousa, volleys in spectacularly in to the corner of the net. One of the best goals Iv'e seen this season.
(An ecstatic Joao Sousa, 2nd left, receives his team mates congratulations)It's not until the last 20 minutes that Heath Hayes start to come back in to the game. One of their best moves sees their No.9 make a good run down the right but his low cross is not converted by their incoming players.
At the start of injury time I have to make my way out of the ground, to ensure I catch the next bus to Cannock.
It has been an entertaining game today with some well taken goals. Mark Owen can be pleased with his young players progress this season and Heath Hayes look to have some promising players coming through too.
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