Powick Reserves lift title

HAVING clinched promotion in last week's match, Powick Reserves travelled to Howard Road to face the Villagers, knowing that victory would hand them the Worcester Sunday league Division Four title ahead of North Worcester Rangers.

The Villagers, themselves, also had something to play for, knowing that they also had to win to stand any chance of promotion.

With many spectators in attendance, Powick began the game strongly, putting Villagers on the backfoot. Although they had the early pressure, Powick were restricted to one wayward strike from distance by Ervan Cokaj.

With the wet conditions dictating the play, the match became a fierce midfield battle, as tackles flew in from both sides.

Stu Hart, in the Powick goal, deputising for Ashley Bennett, saw two efforts flash past his post, before tipping a third Villagers' effort over the bar.

The breakthrough occurred on the half hour when Powick took the lead. Having won the ball in the midfield, Ervan Cokaj sent it forward, which deflected off Lee Jenkins and then a Villager defender, to travel harmlessly through to the Villagers keeper. Knowing he could not handle the ball, the keeper also seemed to forget that he could in fact stop the ball with his foot, as he allowed the ball to roll past him, onto the inside of the post and into the net.

Hart was called into action to tip another ball over the bar before Powick created a glorious chance to double their lead, just before the interval. Adam Munn's ball into the box was chested into the path of Lee Jenkins by Arnaud Lenoir but Jenkins poked his effort wide.

The second-half saw a much more attack-minded Villagers, meaning Oliver Schoolcraft, Adam Munn, James Smith and Chris Sheridan, supported by the energetic Paul Ryan, had to be at their very best to keep Villagers at bay.

Despite Powick's resilience, Villagers began to created chances when first their centre forward sent a bicycle kick wide and then second when Hart had to produce a reflex save to keep out anther goalbound effort.

After surviving this early onslaught, Zillur Rahman brought himself on and switched the formation to become more attacking. Powick began to put pressure on the Villagers defence once more with both Luan Gashi and Pete Moore finding space behind the defence.

Powick came close to a second goal as Chris Sheridan just failed to get his head to a Pete Moore cross, before Luan Gashi finally doubled Powick's lead.

A flowing move through the Powick midfield was completed with a give and go between Paul Ryan and Luan Gashi to send Gashi through on the keeper, who he beat with a low powerful drive.

The switch almost paid instant dividend, as Luan Gashi was set free again. The Villagers keeper just got to the ball ahead of the incoming Lee Jenkins.

It was a similar move that produced Powick's third goal. The keeper again getting to a cross, this time ahead of Pete Moore, this time however the keeper let the ball slip out of his grasp allowing Moore to slot the ball home.

Villagers pushed on in search of a consolation goal, but it was Powick who increased their lead further, with a swift one-touch counter attack involving Paul Ryan, Lee Jenkins and Luan Gashi setting up Moore for his second.

With the game and the title in the bag, Zillur Rahman brought on Daniel Allen and Steve Dallow.

Villagers got a deserved consolation just before the end when Steve Dallow got in the way of Zillur Rahman meaning the ball dropped at the edge of the Powick box. Stu Hart could only palm the ball into the net.