Coventry City v Worcester City - Saturday 8th January 1983

This was another big FA Cup tie for the faithful supporters of the City. Things had started badly though with high winds rendering the half of the ground where City supporters had got reserved seats unusable. Crowd segregation was abandoned as those with tickets were slotted into unsold seats in other parts of the ground. However as Coventry's average gate for the season was less than 10,000 the reduced accommodation seemed adequate even if the absence of people on one side of the ground contributed towards an eerie atmosphere. Coventry attacked right from the start, determined to sink the minnows without trace. But City kept their nerve and the goal intact and fought their way back into the game. Coventry gave away a quite needless corner and as this was about to be taken City's bearded striker, Jimmy Williams, crumpled in a heap on the six-yard line. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and summoned the Coventry keeper, Les Seeley over to him. For a few seconds it looked as though the keeper was set for an early bath but the referee settled for a booking. The Coventry players and supporters were livid but 'goal-king' Paul Moss kept his cool and slotted the ball into the corner of the net. For the next 25 minutes or so the giant electronic scoreboard read "City 0 Worcs.C.1 (Moss)". If City had held out until half time then a major shock was on the cards. Every time the ball went into the City area the home fans started baying relentlessly for a penalty. Eventually the referee obliged as a fierce cross appeared to hit the hand of a City player. Even former Wolverhampton Wanderers keeper, Phil Parkes, was powerless to stop Steve Witton's fierce penalty. A good move shortly after culminated in a goal from Mark Hateley. The home fans settled back expecting a goal avalanche in the second half. It didn't happen as City's defence, led by the redoubtable Graham Selby and Kevin Tudor stood firm and with a bit of luck Jimmy Brown would have netted a deserved equaliser. But it was not to be and there was much relief for the home fans when Steve Witton scored Coventry's third late in the game. City were beaten but it had been a close run thing and all this against the same team who had beaten Manchester United 3-0 only a week previous.

The cup run apart, the league season had been a bit of a disappointment. City still offered plenty of class and could still turn it on for the big occasion but the sparkle seemed to have gone much of the time.

The programme for this game is readily available and should cost you no more than £2.

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