Worthys surrendered their seven match unbeaten run to a determined Barton Stacey side. The real story of this match though was the unfortunate leg break suffered by debutante Michael Weatherall. Just 5 minutes into the game a loose ball was contested by three players leaving Michael unable to move. The sight of an ambulance on the pitch was a sad one for sure. We wish Michael a speedy recovery - out for 2 months now. The game itself was a game of two halves. Barton the much hungrier in the first half and they deservedly led at half time 2 nil through two great attacking moves that were both finished with great aplomb. The second half was tighter but with Worthys seeing more of the ball. Patrick O'Mara chipped the home keeper to put Worthys back in the match but despite several chances Worthys were unable to find the back of the net again. For his energy and running all morning, Ben Clarke was the deserving man of the match.

Testway Cup Semi-Final

We are on our way to Wembley  - or Andover New Street`s ground as the case may be to contest the league cup final !!

The mood was black before the game with our referee crying off an hour before kick-off, the wind and rain howling across Eversley Park and a bare eleven players turning up to play a team that have already beaten us twice comfortably earlier in the season. The bookmakers would have given us no chance. However, here was an eleven players that wanted to win and wanted to play for each other. The opening 5 minutes were tight and it was Worthys playing against the wind that had the first chances of the game - Alex Cornford and Patrick O'Mara both testing the away keeper. The home crowd held their breath when Patrick O'Mara outpaced the right back to go clear on goal but the angle proved too great and it was the side netting that rippled rather than the back of the net. Hatch Warren Phoenix came to life after 10 minutes and from good possession almost went ahead but the crossbar intervened much to the home team`s relief. From similar pressure the ball was safely gathered by Jordan Banks who launched a bomb of a ball down the centre. There was Patrick O'Mara guessing the bounce correctly and lifting the ball over the advancing keeper - One nil Worthys, game on. Alex Watton playing in front of the back four was immense today and won tackle after tackle and used the ball to great effect. One move released Ben Clarke down the right and his good work won a corner ball. A cleverly taken short corner found Alex Cornford in space on the right side of the box. His smashed shot across the goal found Charlie Bell who diverted the ball high into the Hatch net - 2 nil Worthys. The rest of the half was an even affair, Ben Allen, full of energy and running did a magnificent job in closing down space and winning good ball for Worthys. Half time and the score remained 2 nil to Worthys.

The second half started very differently with the away side full of attacking intent. Ryan Johnston,Sam Bridge and Ciaran McCullagh had their work cut out to stem the flow of attacks. When Hatch Warren found sight of goal Jordan Banks was fantastic making two point blank saves to keep our goal intact. The occasional raid from Worthys in the opening 20 minutes of the half allowed two good chances to fall to Worthys, Alex Cornford was denied by the inside of the post and Patrick O'Mara shooting narrowly wide. Phoenix kept threatening and it was no surprise when they pulled a goal back. A high corner in the Worthys box was not dealt with and despite a great initial stop from Jordan the ball broke to a Phoenix player who slammed the ball in the net. Far from dropping their heads, Worthys regathered some energy from somewhere and started to attack themselves. Charlie Sherwood run his heart out in the middle of the park to gain us good possession. He released Patrick O'Mara who took on the away defence. His shot was saved by the keeper but Patrick followed up to restore the two goal advantage - 3-1. Three became four quickly afterwards and again it was Patrick O'Mara showing his pace down the left flank. He opened his body well to shape the ball into the far corner - dreamy stuff 4-1! Still Hatch Warren Phoenix came at Worthys and a nervous last 10 minutes was in store when space was found in the Worthys penalty area to give Jordan Banks no chance - 4-2. The last few minutes showed Worthys at their very best, battling for every ball and header - just a great team effort.
Great match - all the players deserve a big pat on the back today but Ben Allen quite rightly edged the man of the match award. All the players had a decent shout to win this today.

On a heavy pitch this game was an open affair with both sides having chances early on, Jordan Banks was in fine form and tipped a drive over the bar in the first few minutes. Worthys were content to play on the break and from such a move Patrick O'Mara almost opened the scoring with a shot that hit the bar. A carbon copy move again played Patrick O'Mara in but this time the keeper did brilliantly to parry the shot using his legs. Ben Allen and Harry Lewis worked hard to keep Worthys moving forward with some great tackling and energy but it was again Jordan Banks who keep Worthys in the game with a commanding performance between the sticks. Nil nil it finished with both sides having played their part in an open football game.
Jordan Banks for a fine display was the Worthys man of the match.

Bright sunshine welcomed Worthys to Shipton Bellinger for this league cup game. The early pressure came from Worthys who were unlucky not to take the lead in the first couple of minutes. Ben Clarke was raiding well down the right for the away team. An injury set back to Toby Sanders affected the shape of the team and from Shipton`s first attack they scored a good goal. A simple through ball allowed the home striker to collect the ball in space and to slot calmly past Jordan Banks in goal. Worthys responded by hitting the bar from a Patrick O'Mara effort and the post from a Ben Allen effort - could it be one of those days? The home team were excellent in closing the space down and soon started playing some good passing football. With 5 minutes left of the first half the home team were rewarded when a passing move from one flank to the next lead to a low cross and a tap in for the advancing Shipton attackers. Two nil is how the teams went in at half time. What a difference a strong half time talk can make! With a commitment to get to the ball first Worthys upped the tempo considerably. Within a couple of minutes of the restart, a through ball by Kane Orchard set Patrick O'Mara away for a run on goal. From the angle of the box his low drive found the corner of the net to make it 2-1. Worthys were back in the game. With Ben Allen biting into the tackles and Alex Watton calmly controlling in front of the back four, Worthys continued to press. A quick short ball found Sam Carr inside the box, as his neat turn wrong footed the defender he was felled for an obvious penalty. Sam Carr stepped up himself to give the keeper no chance from the spot. This was more like it. More pressure won Worthys a corner half way into the second period. From Ben Clarke`s cross, Kane Orchard knocked the ball onto Patrick O'Mara who jinked inside the centre back before finishing well to put Worthys into the lead. Shipton responded well and the Worthys defence had to be on it`s game to repel several attacks. Kingsley Farrington had slotted in well at right back and with Harry Lewis and Charlie Bell winning every thing in the air Worthys continued to keep a clean sheet in the second period. As the home side searched for the equaliser, gaps started to appear at the back and from one such moment Patrick O'Mara skipped in to make the game safe with a strong finish. The final whistle confirmed Worthys as 4-2 winners. Alex Watton for his good positional discipline and distribution was named man of the match.

Bishops Waltham Dynamos B

Worthys travelled to Mid- Solent team Warsash Wasps for this second round Hampshire Cup tie. Despite losing Charlie Sherwood through a broken collarbone Worthys still fielded a strong team led by captain for the day Sam Carr. The first 5 minutes or so was taken up with both teams battling hard in the middle of the park. Once Worthys started to control their passing the first goal of the game was created. Charlie Bell to Kane Orchard to Charlie Bell who released Patrick O'Mara for a run into the box. O'Mara making no mistake with a low drive. Buoyed by the early goal Worthys continued to press the home team defence and it wasn`t long before Patrick O'Mara made it two with a shot riffled into the net from just inside the box. Hat-trick for Patrick occurred after 20 minutes when a long ball caught out the home team and there was O'Mara to smash the ball in off the underside of the bar. At three nil the pace slowed with a shot from Sam Carr and long distance strikes from Kane Orchard and Ciaran McCullagh being the only opportunities over the next quarter of an hour. After 35 minutes, a clever chest down by Sam Carr ended with a corner from another Kane Orchard strike. A great corner delivery from Kingsley Farrington enabled Charlie Bell to rise highest in the box to power a header passed the keeper. Four nil to Worthys is how it stayed until the break. Four soon became five early in the second half when Patrick O'Mara teased the home defence before chipping a great goal for his fourth of the tie.
The best move of the match - Ryan Johnston to Kane Orchard who found Ben Clarke on the right. An inch perfect cross to Patrick O'Mara which the home keeper did well to save. A missed Worthys penalty was soon forgotten when good work by Alex Watton released Patrick O'Mara on the left, as the initial shot was blocked there was Sam Carr on the edge of the D to belt the ball home for goal number six.
Toby Sanders, not to be outdone after hitting the woodwork with a header, finished the scoring with a nice drive across the keeper to send Worthys into seventh heaven. A refreshing performance after the tough start in the league. All things good about Worthys play came through the excellent Kane Orchard who was a deserved man on the match.

After our last meeting with Shipton Bellinger on 12th September, Worthy’s were keen to go away with a win or at least a draw. We made the 30min drive to the cold and windy but beautiful surroundings of the village of Shipton Bellinger in Wiltshire. After 15mins of gentle sparring Sam Carr scored a 40 yards screamer into the top right corner of the net, what a cracking shot. 3 minutes later Shipton retaliated with a belter from outside of the box, the score now one a piece. 26 minutes in and Charles Sherwood sized the opportunity to run for goal and scored, two one to Worthy’s, out heads high and ready for a win? Just before half time, Charles Sherwood went on another run, but found his shirt being pulled and to or dismay he was booked for dissent, a first for us, I believe. Patrick O’Mara passed to Sam Carr and the goalie saved, leaving us ready for more after the half time team talk. In the second half the sun shone, the wind blew and “we were well up for it” said Nick Allen! Safe hands Jordan Banks made a handful of great saves to keep us in the game. Patrick O’Mara made three attempts at goal with little result, Shipton were very strong in defence. 27 minutes in, we had a handball incident and Shipton almost scored. Relief, we were ready to take the final half to a win. But alas, Shipton made the break 37 minutes in and scored, making it 2 all. The team battled had and were unlucky not to make the break and win. A draw gives us points on the board, ready for our next game.

Worthys entertained high flying Hatch Warren for this division one fixture. In bright sunshine Worthys started brightly forcing the first two corners of the game and with Toby Sanders testing the home keeper with a good drive.
Hatch Warren though moved the ball well and were quickly into their stride when counter attacking. From one Worthy corner the away team broke quickly to force a smart save from Jordan Banks. Finishing was certainly the key difference between the two teams, a great strike from the edge of the box gave Jordan no chance to open the scoring for Hatch Warren. Kane Orchard and Sam Carr were battling well in the middle of the park but could do little to prevent a long distance strike that flew into the top corner for two nil.
With the confidence of a two goal cushion Hatch Warren certainly played the better football although a Patrick O'Mara break ended with his shot unluckily deflected to finish just wide. Ciaran McCullagh saved a certain goal with a last ditch clearance but you felt it was only a matter of time before the pressure paid off. A left foot strike from inside the area gave the away side a three goal lead at half time. In the second half Worthys stuck to their guns and battled hard for a way back into the game, a Charles Sherwood shot going narrowly wide was the best effort for the home team in the early exchanges. An outstanding strike though gave Jordan no chance and at four nil the game was over from a result perspective. A flowing move between Ryan Johnston, Kingsley Farrington and Patrick O'Mara down the right flank almost led to a deserved consolation goal but the final shot found the side netting. Two well taken late strikes emphasised the difference in finishing between the teams. Jordan Banks despite conceding six was the deserving man of the match for a commanding approach to his play.

A patched up Worthys side travelled to excellent facilities at Amesbury Town for this division one game. The early exchanges were an even affair although it was Worthys that had the first attempts on goal. A Sam Carr shot and a strike from Charlie Bell were both wide of the mark. Amesbury started to impose themselves on the game with slick passing moves down the flanks. Jordan Banks was in commanding shot stopping form and dealt with the increasing pressure on the visitors goal. Worthys still managed to break out from defence and strong running from Charles Sherwood kept the home defence on their toes. Against the run of play Worthys had the best chance of the match after 25 minutes when Kingsley Farrington found himself unmarked on the penalty spot. With the home defence closing his shot screwed narrowly wide. After 30 minutes a break down the Worthys left flank produced the opening goal for Amesbury Town. A mix up in defence following a low cross gave the home team a simple tap in. Worthys were grateful to Jordan Banks who produced two fine saves before the half-time whistle. One nil at half time. At the start of the second period Amesbury caught Worthys napping with a short corner. The resultant cross was headed past Jordan Banks for a two nil advantage. For a period of 15 minutes after the goal Amesbury turned up the tempo and the style as quick passing led to two further goals, although the last of these was with a hint of off side. Four nil down gave Worthys an impossible task to recover from. However, they stuck to their guns with Harry Lewis and Charlie Bell competing fiercely for every ball. As the home team stepped off the gas, Worthys created a few chances the best producing a world class save from a Sam Carr strike from outside the box. Four nil it finished and for his never say die attitude Harry Lewis was awarded the Worthys man of the match medal.