Worcester Raiders' gutted' but will 'keep battling' after derby defeat

Liam Lockett's fourth-minute strike secured a 1-0 win for Worcester City at Sixways in a game where Raiders failed to reach their usual high standards.

In truth, they were incredibly poor and looked as if they didn't handle the occasion in the same way their opponents did.

"We are gutted. To lose to our local rivals in the way we have, we are gutted," admitted Gormley. 

"But we are not going to be too down on ourselves, we are still just five league games into the season and we've only lost one game so ultimately, we have started the season well.

Worcester Raiders manager Karl Gormley (left) after the 1-0 defeat to Worcester City (Image: Through The Lens)

"First-half we weren’t at it. Not sure if it was the occasion or not, but we just were not there. Shay (Willock) got injured after we conceded an early goal so our game plan went out of the window. It was backs against the wall all night.

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"Second-half we came out and the quality wasn’t much better but the lads put a shift in.

"They are gutted but nothing gets won in August, we have to pick ourselves up and go again."

Despite defeat, Gormley was keen to not be too down about things, even if the defeat would probably sting for a couple of days.

It was their first defeat of the Hellenic League Premier campaign and they are now level with City in the table, both having ten points. 

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"With the crowd we had in and the occasion, it had that cup final feel but when we sit back and reevaluate, we will do just that and look at it as any other normal game," he said.

2475 was the official attendance at Sixways on Wednesday night, a league record (Image: Through The Lens)

"I said to the lads, this time last year we didn’t have a ground, didn't have a pitch, no money in the bank.

"So we have recovered from a lot worse than this and I know that as long as I'm here with this group, we will keep battling and we will keep going.

"It's football and there's more to life than that, I have learnt that these past couple of months.

"A lot more things more important than a game of football, but it doesn’t feel like that right now. Tomorrow we will feel better and we will go again.

"This group of lads we have here are as good as I have ever had. We aren’t quitters, I am not a quitter and as long as I am here we will keep going, keep fighting."