Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 2 - 1 WORCESTER CITY

Nationwide North, Saturday 3rd March 2007

Report by Gary Owen

This rather drab affair finally sprang to life in the second half with three goals in the space of 13 minutes, but up to that point was somewhat of a midfield stalemate on a sticky pitch from overnight rain.

The opening half hour saw the visitors enjoy the better chances, with Shaun Findlay, Craig Wilding and George Clegg all asking questions of the Bloods' defence.

Justin Thompson also headed over when well placed, but then Jody Banim dummied for Terry Fearns, who laid the ball back into his strike partner's path, but Banim's shot almost went out for a throw-in as he screwed well wide from a central position at the edge of the box.

Adam Webster should have opened the scoring for Worcester after coming on for the concussed Mark Danks, but he lifted his effort over the bar with just Paul Phillips to beat.

Unfortunately, the second half started the same way as much as the first had been, but a Chris Denham run and cross had no-one on the end to convert, and when the ball was played back into the box, Denham shot over. This seemed to spur both sets of players into action, and a football match finally broke out.

The Bloods opened the scoring on 62 minutes when Fearns twisted and turned before chipping in a cross which Gareth Morris headed past Daniel McDonnell.

However, their lead was short-lived as a mysterious free-kick was awarded, apparently for a foul after a Worcester shot had been charged down. Clegg rattled the angle of bar and post from the kick, and with Phillips on the floor having attempted to save the ball, Justin Thompson rose highest to head the re-bound into the unguarded net.

With 20 minutes remaining, Daniel Warner picked-out Banim at the far post with an astute cross. The Bloods' forward lifted the ball over McDonnell, but Des Lyttle was on hand to hook off the line.

Just five minutes later, though, Droylsden re-established their lead when another Warner pass this time found Fearns, and the division's top scorer slotted past McDonnell to score what proved to be the winner.

Clegg placed a header wide from 10 yards as Worcester turned-up the heat in search of a second equaliser, but it was not to come. Indeed, Banim shot over and forced McDonnell into a good save in the dying moments as the Bloods added another three valubale and hard-fought points to their promotion campaign, thereby adding a dent to Worcester's play-off hopes.

DROYLSDEN: Phillips 7, Halford 7, Warner 7, Ruffer 7, Burke 8, Morris 7, Norton 6, KELLY 8, Fearns 7, Banim 8, Denham 6.

SUBS: Daly (not used), Lynch (not used), Robinson 8 (for Burke, 76), Fowler (not used), Williams (not used).

WORCESTER C.: McDonnell, Ward, Khan, Smith, Thompson, Lyttle, Pearce, Findlay, Danks, Wilding, Clegg.

SUBS: Warmer (not used), Webster (for Danks, 38), Cornes (for Pearce, 78), Hodnett (not used), Colley (for Findlay , 63).

SCORERS:

DROYLSDEN - Morris (62), Fearns (75)

WORCESTER CITY - Thompson (67)

REFEREE: Mr. R. L. Metcalfe (Preston, Lancashire)

ATTENDANCE: 474

STAR MAN: Thompson (Worcester City)

ENTRETAINMENT VALUE: 2 (out of 5)