FT Worcester Raiders U18’s 5-1 Hereford FC Community U18’s in The FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round. Goal scored by Jude Gaudin with his first goal for the club on his debut. A heavy away defeat sees us bow out of the FA Youth Cup at the 1st Qualifying Round stage of the competition. The scoreline flattered the hosts, but they were ruthless and took their chances with the two early goals setting the tone of the tie.

The first opportunity of the game came from the Young Bulls, with Jack Tolley having a shot from the left-hand edge of the box from a tight angle, which the Worcester Raiders goalkeeper managed to save. We then had a corner from the right, which Jack Tolley took right-footed, but his delivery went over the head of everyone.

Worcester Raiders’ first chance of the game came from a corner on the left, which 18 played into the box and goalkeeper Will Utley managed to clear.

The hosts then opened the scoring after they were awarded a free kick just to the right of our box, which Arran Webster stepped up to slot the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net. They then quickly doubled their lead shortly afterwards when they we’re awarded another free kick near the left hand touch line just outside the box, 10 whipped a dangerous ball in which Roman Griffin managed to bundle the ball in from close range.

A third was then scored after Arran Webster fizzed the ball across the face of our goal for Tom Price, who had the easy task of prodding the ball home from close range to give Worcester Raiders a commanding lead.

We then had a shout for a penalty to try to get back into the Cup tie after good work by Jack Tolley, who danced his way into the area before cutting the ball back to Robby Neilson, whose shot hit a Worcester Raiders man from close range, but the referee waved the appeals away. Ethan Secker-Howe was then given as being offside after he received a neat ball from Jack Tolley before putting his shot just wide of the left-hand post.

Our next opportunity came from a free kick on the right, which was played into the box by Jack Tolley and found Josh Mills, but the ball just skimmed off his head and out for a goal kick. Jack Tolley then again played another neat ball through this time into the path of Kayode Sahabi, whose right-footed shot was just wide of the left-hand post.

Worcester Raiders had the final effort of the first half after some neat dribbling by 18 on the edge of the box, he curled a left-footed shot which flew just wide of the left-hand post, which meant they went into the half-time interval three goals to the good.

We unfortunately then found ourselves further behind earlier in the second half with the first effort of the half after Worcester Raiders we’re awarded a free kick on the right near the corner flag, their 18 played it into the box which Will Utley could only palm the ball out into the path of George Hadley who drilled the ball into the right hand corner of the net.

Our first chance of the second half came after Kayode Sahabi delivered a good cross from the left to the back post where Ethan Secker-Howe hit a good right footed shot which went just wide. We then had a corner from the left, which Jack Tolley delivered into the box and found Riley Bevan, but his shot was well blocked by a Worcester Raiders defender.

Jack Tolley then did well to win a free kick on the left, he put the resulting free kick into the box right footed which Worcester Raiders 6 managed to clear for a corner. Riley Bevan then had a right-footed effort which went just wide of the left-hand post after being played in by Jude Gaudin.

The Young Bulls got a goal back, which their second-half efforts deserved, after a good ball through this time by Riley Bevan to Jude Gaudin, who slotted the ball into the back of the net after beating the Worcester Raiders goalkeeper to get his first goal for the club on his debut.

Jude Gaudin then had another chance but his shot from the right hand edge of the box was saved before Worcester Raiders rounded out the scoring to seal their passage through to the 2nd Qualifying Round after Tom Price got his second goal of the game after he advanced into our box after the referee played an advantage before drilling his right footed shot low into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

We dust ourselves off and go again with more Cup action next up in the Colin Lowe Memorial League Cup 1st Round and a trip to Northfield Town.

Words: Sam Cummins