Worcester's road to Bramall Lane started in the Second Qualifying Round with a 1-1 draw at Holbeach United, forcing the game to a replay which they made amends with a 2-0 victory, and after another 1-1 draw they disposed of Solihull Motors with a single goal at home in the replay. With just 90 minutes awaiting a potential First Round tie North-East side Gateshead, who were knocking on the door of the Football League last season, two goals from veteran Deon Burton, one in each half, was enough to despatch Gateshead at their International Stadium.
The Midlands side The Blues had a very successful FA Cup campaign, wins over neighbours Rugby Town, Leamington and Greenwhich Borough in the Qualifiers earned them a lucrative tie at Coventry City where, at the Ricoh Arena they made national headlines, winning 2-1. In Round 2 they hit the headlines again but for the wrong reason. After a 1-1 draw at Glanford Park they brought a replay at home against Scunthorpe United. In the replay the score was locked 1-1 after extra-time with a penalty shoot-out required. In what is FA Cup history and folk law the shoot-out ended 13-14 in favour of the Iron - the biggest score-line in this competition.
The furthest the Blues have ever reached in the FA Cup was the Fourth Round in 1958-59 where they lost to Sheffield United by two goals to nil at their former St George's Lane ground. They had beaten Chelmsford City in a First Round Replay before disposing of Millwall (5-2) and Liverpool (2-1) in Rounds Two and Three. A crowd of 17,042 against the Blades remained the ground's record attendance up until its closure in 2013. Currently they have no home to call themselves and share with near neighbours Kidderminster Harriers at the Aggborough Stadium.
They compete in the National League North, 84 places below the Blades. They lost their last fixture against Harrogate Town and with just three league wins in the fourteen matches played to date, languish 20th in the league and currently hold the last remaining relegation spot.
The Blues have a wealth of players with former Football League experience. Most notably are strikers Deon Burton and Lee Hughes (suspended). Burton, 39 famously served with Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United with Scunthorpe United being his last club before entering Non-League. Meanwhile Hughes needs no introduction have scored plenty of goals for West Bromwhich Albion before, in 2004 was jailed for six years (which he served three years) for causing death by dangerous driving. Upon his released he played for Oldham Athletic, Port Vale and Nott's County.
Also on their books is forward Ashley Vincent, formerly with Gillingham and defender Clayton McDonald, formerly with Port Vale but perhaps more famous with Sheffield United after he was acquitted of allegations of rape on 20 April 2012 whilst his counterpart Ched Evans was sentenced for five years, but has since been released.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2 Worcester City 0
