TWO neighbouring sports clubs have come together to help Worcester City protect their Claines Lane pitch ahead of Saturday's sold-out Isuzu FA Vase semi-final first-leg with Great Wakering Rovers.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club and Step 7 side New Dales Vale have allowed City to use their rain covers to reduce the impact the forecasted rain might have on the pitch later this week.

City take on Wakering in front of 1400 fans on Saturday and with the recent issues at City's home ground, this step should help reduce the chances of the game being postponed.

Worcester have had a number of games postponed in the 2023/24 season due to the surface at Claines struggling with any sort of water, which has led to a congested final six weeks of the season.

City currently have 12 games to play in the next four weeks, but that could yet rise to 14 if they progress into both the Vase and the Marsh Challenge Cup finals. 

It is already looking like a huge challenge for manager Chris Cornes and his players and that hectic schedule begins on Tuesday night with a trip to third-place Royal Wootton Bassett Town in the Hellenic League Premier.

They will then hope that the covers at Claines will help ensure the highly-anticipated Vase semi-final first-leg goes ahead, where City will look to take a lead down to Southend for April 6 as they dare to dream of a Wembley final.