Wednesfield v Worcester Raiders

RAIDERS huffed and puffed but never looked like blowing down the house having gifted Wednesfield a dream start.
Will Osborne’s second-minute strike ultimately decided matters as Raiders succumbed to a second West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division defeat of the season, going down 1-0 at Amos Lane.
The sucker punch was landed when Osborne cruised inside full-back Dan Flowers, prodding far enough to lure out keeper Lewis Pinches who he beat to the ball to walk into the net.
It could have got far worse for Raiders with Ellis Blakemore curling just high and wide, Osborne hitting the base of the post having sauntered by Flowers again and a cross hitting the roof of the crossbar inside the opening 10 minutes.
The visitors eventually settled, though, and played by far the more expansive football on a difficult surface only to be kept at bay by a stubborn Wednesfield backline.
Aaron Drake’s corner had to be hacked off the line 16 minutes in but that was as good as it got for Raiders, while Berhane Joseph should have doubled the home side’s lead on the break only to scuff wide having got the run on Tim Beattie.
Matt Tyler, Roland Krol and Kirk Layton all had swings in a goalmouth scramble early in the second half but that promise soon drifted away as Raiders ran out of ideas.
Matters got worse when substitute Gavin Podmore, booked within a minute of coming for scything down Blakemore, fell on the ball and handled it to deny Joseph a run in behind him, collecting a second yellow card.
Raiders looked better with 10 men and briefly turned the screw but play became increasingly fractious.
Bright spark Kyle Belmonte had a 20-yard effort scooped around the post by keeper Callum Smith with Tyler denied what looked a strong shout for a penalty during the dying embers having turned Sam Cunningham.
Raiders will reflect on deserving something having had most of the game but dogged Wednesfield certainly earned their three points.