Worcester City Women FC 2 v 0 Kidderminster Harriers

City see off rivals Harriers in a dominant display at Sixways.

The FA Women’s National League Cup returned to Sixways on Sunday, and City were looking to bounce back following defeat last time out to Leafield Athletic.

City were also seeking their first win of this season’s FA Women’s National League Cup after succumbing to a 2-0 defeat away at Cheltenham Town last month.

City were the better of the two sides in the first half, and after five minutes, hit the crossbar after Carys Lowley played in Keeley Crew, who cut in from the left-hand side and passed the ball to Evie Billingsley, who struck a shot that dipped and hit the crossbar.

7 minutes later, City broke forward in numbers and Billingsley collected the ball and sprayed a lovely pass to Laila Rich, but the Harriers keeper managed to gather the ball from her cross.

Just before the 20th minute mark, Billingsley, who was again at the heart of City’s excellent play, this time saw her shot deflected behind for a corner.

Three minutes later, Kaye Haggett put in a deep cross to the back stick for Keeley Crew; however, her effort didn’t have enough conviction to trouble the Harriers goalkeeper.

Harriers had to wait until the 41st minute to have their first shot on target, but Jodie Whiteman in the City net had no problem gathering the ball.

Just before the break, Billingsley drove into the box, but her effort drifted wide as the first half ended goalless.

City started the second half exactly how they started the first half, pushing for that all-important opener.

Just before the hour mark, a Billingsley corner was met by a Lowley header that just went wide of the post.

Just before the 70th minute, Worcester’s dominance finally paid off, after game changes Annie Highway and Jessica Fassnidge linked up superbly, and Fassnidge rifled one in the top left-hand corner.

Shortly after, City were pushing for a second, game-changer Sophie Griffiths had one cleared off the line, and Billingsley had a shot that was pushed behind for a corner.

A couple of minutes later, City doubled their advantage after a Billingsley corner hit the bar, but Lowley was there to head home from close range.

In the 81st minute, Haggett drove into space and hit a shot, but her effort was palmed away by the Harriers’ keeper.

Five minutes later, Haggett again was causing the Harriers’ backline problems after she got in behind, but her effort was blocked; however, the ball landed at her feet, and she teed up Fassnidge, whose effort was pushed out for a corner.

Harriers had a chance to halve the deficit, but the shot went over the bar.

In stoppage time, Billingsley had an effort that looked like it was going in for City’s third, but the keeper was equal to her effort.