THE new date for the second Worcester Derby of the 2023/24 Hellenic League Premier season has been set for April.
After the postponements on Boxing Day and then again in March, City and Raiders will go head-to-head in just the second-ever competitive fixture between the two sides on Tuesday, April 16 (7.45 pm kick-off).
City will be looking to complete the double over their rivals following the 1-0 win at Sixways back in August, against a Raiders side who have already played their penultimate game of the 2023/24 campaign. The game with City will be their final game of the season, almost five weeks on from their 1-1 draw with Cinderford Town.
As for City, their season is anything but over. The derby will be the first of three games in five days for City, with rearranged games against Mangotsfield United (Thursday, April 18) and Cinderford Town (Saturday, April 20) now confirmed.
In total, City have nine league games in the first 20 days of April, as they catch up on games moved or postponed due to a combination of weather and their runs in the various cup competitions. Chris Cornes' men are one point off leaders Corsham Town, but have five games in hand and require 17 points from their remaining 10 games to win the division and gain automatic promotion.
16 points will more than likely be enough given City's goal difference - +64 compared to Corsham's +44 - meaning City need six more wins to wrap up the title, providing Corsham do not slip up in what they have left.
City also have the semi-final two-legged Isuzu FA Vase affair to contend with, as well as a semi in the Marsh Challenge Cup to come following Wednesday night's Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup Final second-leg with Roman Glass St George.
It's a hectic schedule for Cornes' charges and it is going to test his squad to the limit. But so far, they have progressed with flying colours. In 2024, they have won every single game they have played across all competitions and they are on a 17-game winning streak.
It could well be a quadruple for City and they look big favourites to go on and do just that.
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