Matchday Preview – Worcester Raiders (A) Match Day 8
By Duncan Gardner
Another week and another new team for the Terras to play in the shape of Worcester Raiders! Looking at their short history it is no surprise we have not faced this club before as this is their first season this high in the footballing pyramid, following promotion via the playoffs in the spring. No stranger to promotion campaigns this was their fifth in 16 years since forming an adult Saturday team just 16 years ago.
They currently play their football at the 1,400 capacity Claines Lane ground but before last season they occupied the 12,000 capacity Sixways stadium in the town – a venue that now homes their local rivals Worcester City, a team Weymouth have played many times in the past at the now demolished St. George’s Lane ground.
And it is with City I have managed to find one player connection in the current Raiders squad – Logan Stoddart who played for City in their pre-season friendly in July at the Bob Lucas stadium before moving across town to play for the Raiders this season.
For the Terras this weekend the game represents a chance for a reboot following their exit from the FA cup as we focus back on league games for a while until we play Sholing in the FA Trophy later this month. And the omens are good for picking up some points in Worcester as we are unbeaten in the last five seasons in the league game following our FA cup exit – albeit four of these games ending in a draw!
A Saturday win would mean the Terras being victorious in 7 of their first 8 league games this season, representing their best return to begin a campaign since the team won their first 8 league games in 1947/48.
Can the Terras stop the Raiders and source Worcestershire for the points this weekend?
