USE YOUR BRAIN

SELSTON 1 WORCESTER CITY 4
MFL PREM @ THE PARISH
8 SEPTEMBER 2019 --- 1PM

SEAN BRAIN HAT TRICK ON DEBUT FOR WORCESTER CITY

Managers and coaches can often be heard from the side lines encouraging with phrases such as 'think about what your doing', 'use your head' well here the management team of Worcester City could be accused of using their Brain.  With fifteen minutes to go a change was made and on came debut boy Sean Brain, signed from Coleshill, to fire home a hat trick in that time to take City over the line against a resilient nine man Selston who were stubbornly holding out at one all.
A moment of Deja vu upon greeting the lady who was stewarding the car park because just over a week ago the Teversal FA Vase game had taken place today though it would be an earlier kick off at 1pm following Selston wedding celebrations yesterday this game was moved with the kind agreement of the visitors.  Travel to the game was all very comfortable with a change at Alfreton and arrival just over half an hour before kick off allowing time to obtain both teams, a programme and a sample of the sausage rolls here at The Parish Grounds.

AN EARLY AERIAL GET TOEGTHER

Ground descriptor and admiration for what Selston have done and achieved over the last few years is known to any regular reader and a little more can be viewed on last weeks blog.
The visitors would have had an early Sunday start to arrival in the East Midlands and of course their turbulent recent history is much documented having to now play away from 'home' in Bromsgrove during the day the travelling fans were in good spirit and I struck up conversation with one family who represented City well and as per any football fan of course it goes without saying they are wished all the best in securing a home back in Worcester.  For the time being though they are at Bromsgrove and have suffered a shaky start results wise and are nestling below half way in the table before this game started but although on paper it looked close I did fear a little for Selston.

WATCHING YOU

A crowd of over 200 had gathered on a beautiful Sunday afternoon indeed it could have almost been cricket weather but ninety minutes of the footy would follow in what turned out to be a strange encounter.
Selston were out of the traps at a pace and looked to get Worcester on the back foot in the opening exchanges, including a header just over the bar, but soon the boys in green came into their own and with what seemed like a fussy referee in the guise of Jamie Howe the game struggled to flow.  Gradually Worcester became in control with Selston struggling to get out of their half and on the thirty minute mark an error at the back allowed Demetri Brown to latch onto the ball and fire home a sharp finish to give City the lead.

HEAD TENNIS IS NEXT WEEK AT 10AM LADS

A tasty tackle from Sean Gregory in front of the home dug out lead to a gathering of players rushing in and when all was under control Gregory was booked for the challenge and the home sides Joe Naylor was shown a red card for his greetings in the kerfuffle.
Worcester had a goal disallowed for offside and saw their own caution for Luke English for a dive in the box but they went into the break fairly in the lead as both management teams questioned the referee on the walk back to the changing rooms.

HALF TIME DISCUSSIONS

Ten men would make it hard for Selston and Worcester should have punished them early on but they found home keeper Simon Baldwin in excellent form saving from Liam Lockett and Craig Jones and then with his legs from Jordan Harrison.
Somehow Selston got out of their half were awarded a corner on the right and the near post in swinger was met by Joe Hawkins who deflected his header into his own net to pull the scores level on 56 minutes.  Worcester looked edgy their fans said this was City all over they, should have been well away but hadn't been able to finish their chances.

SELSTON KEEPER BALDWIN STRETCHES TO CLEAR

Battle royal ensued as the home side looked to hang on for a valuable point all until 75 minutes when Gregory brought down Brain, who had just come on moments earlier, in the box.  The result saw Gregory shown a second yellow and Selston were down to nine men and as for Brain he calmly waited to fire Worcester into the lead from the spot.
Selston had nothing to lose and went for the equaliser but were always susceptible to the breakaway and of course it happened in the first minute of stoppage time English flew down the right with all intention of supplying Brain in the middle who slotted home to make it 3-1.

MORE HEROICS FROM BALDWIN TO DENY WORCESTER

As we entered the ninety fourth minute the best we had to wait for Brain found himself in space and fired confidently across Baldwin into the far corner to make it 4-1.  A score line that was slightly harsh on the efforts of Selston but the early second half chances for Worcester could have seen four arrived at earlier than it eventually was.

BIG CUDDLE FOR HAT TRICK HERO SEAN BRAIN [CENTRE]

For Worcester this was the result their supporters craved and will probably help them push on as for Selston they are well used to the battle and having to show heart in all their games today though the heart was beaten by the Brain.