The defeat ended Emley's run of 9 games without defeat and ended any hopes of a Wembley appearance, 36 years on from our last visit in the same competition.

Despite a valiant effort, Emley were second best for most of the game on a pitch that was far from ideal for this level of football and found themselves 2 down and chasing the game at half time and had to play with 10 men for 20 minutes.

Worcester were on top early on and Emley's cause wasn't helped when the pitch played a big part in injuries to 2 vital Emley players, top scorer Ruben Jerome pulled up early on and then captain James Knowles was forced off after he made a big tackle and replaced by Steve Smith with only 15 minutes gone, Jerome would gingerly carry on until half time.

Emley were on the back foot as City notched up a couple of corners, Petrovic was forced to punch clear, and then make a decent from a shot Emley were struggling to put any kind of moves together and were finding it difficult playing up the sticky pitch, and it was probably no surprise when the hosts took the lead on 21 minutes, the ball was played in to the back post where Lockett fired home.

Emley, backed by a sell out away support of 210 in a capacity crowd came into the game a little bit, Gooden was starting to cause a few problems, but a succession of corners didn't yield any reward, it got even worse for Emley when Walshaw was harshly penalised for a foul, he spoke out of turn to the referee and was shown a yellow card and sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

Emley's supporters, massed in one corner, gave the side tremendous vocal support and thought they were rewarded on the half hour but Clegg's shot was saved by the keeper, Cowgill then saw a header tipped behind, at the other end, Petrovic was forced into action to deny the hosts a second, they then blasted a free kick wide.

But with half time approaching and Emley hoping to regroup, there came a terrible piece of bad luck as Hardaker appeared to lose his footing on an area of the pitch resembling a beach and his header back evaded Petrovic and the ball rolled into the net for Worcester's second as half time approached.

H/T- Worcester 2-0 Emley

Emley were forced into another change at half time as Jerome's match was ended through the injury he sustained early in the game, replaced by Curtis, within a few minutes of the restart, Cowgill was booked for Emley.

Despite the disruption, Emley looked a better outfit in the second half, Curtis and Metcalfe combined but the keeper dealt with it before Hardaker struck a free kick straight at the keeper after Clegg was fouled on the edge of the box.

Just past the hour came The Pewits' best chance, good work from Gooden saw him play a neat ball across the box and Walshaw's flick couldn't be capitalised on and the ball ran dead, Emley, superbly backed by their fans down that end were enjoying a purple patch, Clegg was denied by a good tackle, another corner saw Curtis recycle the ball but it was taken away from Metcalfe for another corner which was mopped up by the keeper.

Emley's good spell would come to an end though, and with it, their hopes of progressing in the Vase, first, the referee, brandished 2 more yellows, one for Smith's challenge and then another sin bin for Emley! this time it was Joe Kenny who incurred the wrath of the referee and was ordered off for 10 minutes, it was going to be even harder for Emley now.

And so it proved, when just 2 minutes later, Worcester added a third, a good move ended with Lockett again finding the net at the back post.

City would then put Emley under more pressure as they looked for a 4th, a shot flew inches wide but then Emley held firm, that is until the 90th minute when an Emley attack in midfield broke down and Worcester punished them by moving quickly upfield to finish the tie off with a neat finish low past Petrovic.
Donae Lawrence had earlier made his welcome return to the fold by replacing Smith.

To Emley's credit, they never gave up and attempts by Hardaker, Metcalfe and Gooden were well off target as the Pewits looked to give their tremendous travelling support something to cheer at the end, but it wasn't to be, Worcester deservedly march into the semi finals and Emley, will lick their wounds before we look to get back on title track with a home game against Silsden next Saturday.

The Emley fans applauded the efforts of their team who were clearly disappointed in the final score. It just wasn't our day.

F/T- Worcester 4-0 Emley

Attendance- 1,400

Emley- Petrovic, Pashley, Hardaker, Metcalfe, Knowles (c), Cowgill, Clegg, Kenny, Jerome, Gooden, Walshaw; Subs used- Smith, Curtis, Lawrence.

Unused- Randall, Eyles, Walker, T.Haigh.

Moxon and Co. Man of the Match- Sam Pashley