Monday, August 26
Worcester City 2 Hednesford Town 2
CONFERENCE North fans can breathe easy. While Worcester City treat Kidderminster's Aggborough as home, the famous Harriers grub will indeed be on offer.
Kiddy's food is widely regarded as some of the best English football, not just Non-League, has to offer. Their famous cottage pie might cost you £4, but a soggy reheated sausage roll it is not.
The menu reads more like one in an expensive restaurant than at your average football match. Chilli con carne, lasagne and chicken curry are also on offer for the more adventurous supporter.
Eating the delicious pie in the stand at Worcester's new adopted home is the closest I'll ever come to being part of the prawn sandwich brigade – but it was most definitely worth it.
Parking was £2 with places aplenty and before entering the ground, I made a stop at the Harriers' Arms which is situated just outside the entrance, and serves a wide variety of alcoholic beverages.
A pint of lager knocks you back £3.45 but it's a proper pub which generates a good pre-match atmosphere between both sets of fans. Entry was £12 which might be a bit steep for Step 2 football but upon doing a bit of research, it seems average.
The 35-page full colour programme was a good read with views from manager, boardroom, captain and local press and £2.50 was a perfectly acceptable price.
Considering their move from the historic St George's Lane at the end of last season after 108 years, Worcester fans have backed their club well with a couple of good attendances at Aggborough so far; 741 watching this one.
The main stand and the covered terrace end behind the left-hand side goal were open and any visitor to Kidderminster will tell you how well the ground encapsulates the Non-League feel while also being good enough to host Football League football with ease.
Bank Holiday games always seem to have an extra edge and the visiting support from Hednesford helped create a good atmosphere which befitted what turned out to be an exciting fixture.
Daniel Nti gave Worcester a first-minute lead before Wayne Riley and an Elliott Durrell penalty put the visitors in front at the break.
Nti, who looked lively throughout, grabbed a deserved equaliser for Worcester in the 57th minute. Both sides could have won it but a draw was a fair result in the end. While Worcester fans may mourn the loss of St George's Lane for some time, in Aggborough they have quite the adopted home.
Ticket value 3, Programme 4, Food 5, Bar 4, Toilets 4, Atmosphere 4, Match 4, Overall: 4
