Football
Taylor inspires City fightback

Worcester City 2 Gloucester City 1

Tim Clarke reports from St George's Lane.

Att 1,501

SUBSTITUTE Michael Taylor inspired a thrilling second half fightback as Worcester City beat Gloucester City 2-1 in a gripping Boxing Day clash at St George's Lane.

City's super-sub bulldozed his was through Gloucester's defence to haul City level nine minutes after replacing Danny Carey-Bertram before his tenacity won the hosts a penalty 13 minutes from time, which Simon Brown converted.

It capped a remarkable second half fightback by City after Darren Edwards' 22nd minute strike for the visitors had threatened to ruin the festivities.

A bumper crowd of 1,501 supporters - City's biggest gate for more than three years - packed out the Lane to see if City could notch up their third successive league win, but they were left disappointed in the first half as the hosts appeared to suffer a Christmas hangover.

City's usual neat passing and build-up play was littered with mistakes as they lacked any of the fluidity and threat which has seen them stake a strong claim for a place in the Blue Square Bet North play-offs.

Carl Heeley's side should have taken the lead with the first chance of the game though on 15 minutes as Carey-Bertram headed over Brown's pinpoint cross from just six yards out. The miss was punished seven minutes later as Gloucester took full advantage of a flat footed City defence.

Edwards was put clear by Matt Lock’s through-ball and the striker kept his cool to round keeper James Dormand before slotting home.

City’s response was immediate as within a minute Mike Symons opened up Gloucester's defence and his cross eventually fell to Brown six yards out, but the forward could only crash the ball against the underside of the bar with the goal gaping.

Symons was at the heart of City's best moments throughout the afternoon as he appeared desperate to prove a point against his former club, who deemed him surplus to requirements in the summer.

Gloucester's loss has been Worcester's gain and City's fired-up top scorer repeatedly stretched the visitors' defence, bringing a smart save out of keeper Lewis Carey 12 minutes after the break as the home side desperately sought a way back into the game.

It came through the arrival of Talyor, whose infectious enthusiasm appeared to lift his teammates and City's supporters with an hour gone.

The substitution paid dividends nine minutes later as Taylor stole the ball off Tom Hamblin before charging his way past Carey and eventually bundling the ball over the line. City's tails were up as they smelt blood while Gloucester resorted to increasingly desperate defending.

The pressure told in the 77th minute as Taylor again charged into the box and was up-ended by Matt Rose, with referee Steven Plane pointing straight to the spot. Brown made no mistake, smashing the penalty past Carey to complete a thrilling fightback and send the large crowd into raptures.

STANDARD STAR MAN - Michael Taylor