Match Preview

Match Preview by Lewis Howarth

This Thursday Hellenic League Premier Champions Worcester City welcome Hereford Lads Club in what will be the last home game of a historic season for Worcester. This season has seen City break numerous goalscoring records, embark on all-time club record winning streaks both in league football and all competitions, as well as securing two pieces of silverware already, with a Treble on the cards with the Marsh Challenge Cup Final coming up. It will be a season remembered for years to come by supporters and this Thursday is the last chance to attend Claines Lane and watch the league champions in action at home this season. This game is also significant as three points would also see City reach the 100 points mark, a century of points in this incredible season.

City head into the game in blistering form. Since the heartbreak in Essex two weeks ago, City have responded tremendously by winning four of their last four games in all competitions, including reaching the Marsh Challenge Cup final after defeating Letcombe 1-0 on Saturday.

In terms of form, Calvin Dinsley has been on fire recently for Worcester. Having scored in both of his last two games including getting the only goal in a 1-0 win in the Semi Final against Letcombe. Logan Stoddart also picked up the club's Bristol Street Motors Player of the Month Award for March, highlighting a great run of performances for Logan in the past few weeks and throughout the season, too.

For Hereford Lads Club, this will be their final league game of the season, a disappointing campaign where they currently sit 17th in the league table, after fending off the threat of relegation. Lads Club have been struggling with form recently, having only picked up one win in their last nine games, including losing their last three games as well as only finding the back of the next once in that time. James Hancocks is Lads Club's top scorer this season with seven goals.

Within the City ranks, there looks to be a healthy internal rivalry with the battle for the this season's Golden Boot and Top Goalscorer Award, between Belmonte and Lockett. Belmonte currently leads the way on 40 goals, with Lockett four goals behind in second place. The last two games of the season are a great opportunity for one of them to end the season with the golden boot for the Hellenic Premier Division too. Belmonte is currently level with Mangotsfield's Jadyn Crosbie on 29 league goals, but with Mangotsfield having now completed their league season, it gives Belmonte especially a great chance to finish as the league's outright top scorer.

The previous league fixture saw City smack five past Hereford Lads Club in a fantastic 5-1 away win in front of 238 supporters. Belmonte and Lockett both secured a brace with Jamie Insall grabbing a goal as well.

This will be the last chance to see City at Claines Lane this season and an opportunity to secure 100 points, creating another piece of history to add to an unforgettable season. For this game we have THREE car parks available:

Onsite at the ground which must be booked in advance
RGS The Grange, Grange Lane, Worcester WR3 7RR (£2 payable in cash at car park entrance).
The River School, School Bank, Worcester WR3 7ST (£3 payable in cash at the car park entrance - there is a steep bank leading to this car park).

PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY FOR THIS GAME . DO NOT PARK IN ANY OF THE LANES SURROUNDING THE GROUND, ANYONE DOING SO WILL BE REFUSED ENTRY TO THE GAME.