DELIGHTED City boss Tim Harris hailed his squad after the Blue and Whites advanced to the next round of the FA Vase.
A 2-1 win over fancied United Counties League Premier South visitors Lutterworth Town handed Worcester a second-round trip to Cambridgeshire side Whittlesey Athletic on November 20. Goals from Bailey Fuller and Will
Gibbons put City 2-0 up last weekend before Louis Samuels pulled one back in the dying seconds of the game.
Harris expressed his delight at another Claines Lane victory as City notched up their fourth win in five games.
“I thought from the first minute we worked our socks off. We had to make several changes for one reason or another but the lads have worked themselves into the ground,” he said.
“It was disappointing to concede a goal in the last few minutes but hey ho we are in the hat for the next round of the Vase.
“It wasn’t too dissimilar to last week (against Boldmere St Michaels), I’ve got to say I went to watch Lutterworth against Coventry United and they’ve scored 50-odd goals this year so they are a threat.
“So for the lads to work as hard as they did and prevent them for causing us too many problems was a real credit to everyone who played.”
While hailing his side’s performance, Harris was quick to praise youngsters such as Sam Whitton, Will Gibbons, Josh Schuck, Mati Klich and Cam Montieth for their efforts.
“They came in and stood up against a very physical side in what was a very good team performance,” Harris said.
“Competition for places is always good at any football club and especially where we are at this moment in time with 10 players out, 12 if you count the two long-term injuries.”
City’s opener came from a Lutterworth attack down the right-hand side on 29 minutes.
Callum Riley sent in a cross to the City box which was cut out by Sam Hall who played out to his left to find Whitton.
His ball forward found Gibbons on the half way line, and the latter turned quickly before sending Fuller through on the right. He then raced forward before checking back, turning inside and firing in to the bottom left corner.
City’s second on 63 minutes came from another attack from the visitors. Abdul Rahman Sunmonu drove forward but his ball found Fortune Maphosa who burst forward before providing a through-ball which split the defence in half and into the path of Gibbons who finished from the edge of the box.
A trip to Romulus awaits the Blue and Whites on Saturday (kick off 3pm) as fourth-placed City return to action in the Midland League Premier Division.