HISTORY-MAKING Worcester City moved into the last 16 of the FA Vase after an exciting night of cup football in front of a noisy crowd at the Victoria Ground.
A brace from Marco Adaggio overturned an early goal from visitors Coventry United last Wednesday and secured a trip to Atherstone Town next month.
City went behind in bizarre circumstances after seven minutes. With time to spare Sam Hall mis-hit his clearance from midway in the City half with the ball falling into the path of United’s Joe Cairnes. He put Kyle Carey through on goal, only for City’s Dan Okojie to knock the ball past keeper Dan Jezeph as he sprinted to catch the striker.
On 15 minutes it was level following pressure on the City left. Okojie’s pinpoint cross found Adaggio for the striker to head home from six yards out.
Ten minutes later City added a second. Once again a cross was part of the build-up, this time from the right. Luke English’s deep cross was brought down superbly by Sean Brain and though his shot from eight yards bounced off the arm of a defender Adaggio bundled the ball over the line to make it 2-1.
Coventry struggled with the pace of the City attack for the remainder of the first half but they nearly drew level when Carey had a glorious opportunity from a long throw, but Jezeph produced a fantastic save.
At the other end, City nearly extended their lead through Demetri Brown, only to be denied by keeper Reece Francis.
In the second half Coventry had the majority of the ball but there were few decent chances for either side but when they did, City stood firm with Jezeph punching clear on more than one occasion.
City had a good chance in the final few minutes and forced a goal-line clearance but hung on.
City will now head to Atherstone, who sit sixth in Midland League Division One but with games in hand on the leaders, on February 8.
On Saturday, City face a rematch with Coventry in the MFL Premier Division, heading to Butts Park Arena for a 3pm kick-off.