But write these lads off at your peril. Somehow even though they were dead on their feet at the end of the game. They pressed, harried and scored against the home side for the first hour and then put their bodies on the line and defended like their lives depended on it for the last half hour.

With regular starters Curtis Cocking and Brad Welding unavailable and Dan Bryson, Tyree Clarke, Freddie Watts and Lewis McPike all injured. Manager Dave King literally picked a formation around the players available. Which was a fluid 3-5-2. With Colum Nugent brought into the back 3 and Elliott Hartley up front with Dan Smith.

After a fairly even first 25 minutes where the hosts had the possession while the visitors pressed and gave them nothing the first shot on goal came from Worcester but a Dave Reynolds shot never troubled Adam Harrison in the Tividale goal. Liam Lockett and Reynolds both had effort’s a few minutes later but they also found Harrison’s midriff.

Tividale’s first and up to then the game’s best chance fell to skipper Matt Hunt in the 35th minute. A Ryan Grosvenor corner was met by Hunt at the back post but Worcester keeper Daniel Jezeph saved with his legs.

Tividale’s next attack proved vital. On 39 minutes a Aaron Roberts pass to Joe Hawkins was miscontrolled and Smith does what he does. Picked the defenders pocket switched the ball to his left foot and curled the ball into the top left-hand corner giving Jezeph no chance.

Josh Willis then cut in from the right for City but again comfortable for Harrison to round off the half.

Half Time: Worcester City 0-1 Tividale

It was the 55th minute of the second period before the first chance of the half came but again another from range and another Harrison comfortable save. After the pressing of the first hour, Tividale were now visibly tiring but with a very limited bench some of the lads were now in danger of causing long term injuries.

City were now firmly in the driving seat and were now camped in the Tividale half and they did find the back of the net but a City player was well offside.

On 66 minutes a rare lapse in Tividale concentration let Sean Brain through from a long ball. He was left one on one with Harrison and as he rounded the keeper, he took one extra touch and that was enough for the keeper to gather the ball. Brain appealed for a penalty but interestingly there did not seem a lot of the City fans behind Harrisons goal in agreement.

Reynolds then had Harrison worried with a fine strike from around 25 yards that went just wide of the left-hand post. It was now all hands to the pump as City were now bombarding the Tividale goal with a number of crosses but Nugent, Hunt and Barnes were immense, winning everything and those they couldn’t reach was beating everyone. With Smith having run himself into the ground and young left wing back Will Rawlins carrying an injury. City right back Aaron Roberts was now getting the freedom to cause all sorts of problems.

Tividale then brought on TJ Munthali for Smith and dropped him in front of Rawlins and his first crunching tackle ended the threat of Roberts. Hartley had about 10 minutes on his own up front before he had run himself into the ground and had to be withdrawn and replaced by the also injured Jelson Antonio.

While all this was going on City were still knocking but Tividale were not letting them in and again Brain fired a shot that was again easily dealt with by Harrison.

In the end time ran out for the home side as Tividale held on for the 3 points.