**Worcester City are here to make a statement in the Cup, while Stratford Town desperately need a spark.** 🏆 This is exactly the kind of tie where form and momentum collide head-on.

Worcester have been quietly solid — three wins in their last five, including two straight victories over Knowle and Merthyr. Stratford, meanwhile, are all over the place: yes, they've got two wins on the board, but three defeats in five tells you they're fragile, especially after that brutal 5-0 hammering at home to Kidderminster.

Key storylines:

- **Worcester's defence** has looked compact in recent outings — if **Dinsley** and **Reid** control the midfield, they'll suffocate Stratford's creative outlets
- **Stratford's attack-minded setup** with **Hawkins** and **Bastos** upfront could catch a slow start, but consistency under pressure isn't their strength
- Home advantage and recent wins give **Worcester** serious edge in a knock-out scenario

Expected lineups:

- **Worcester City**: C. Dzialuk, A. Mace, C. Wise, D. Idehen, E. Keightley, C. Dinsley, I. Reid, L. Lockett, B. Smalley, C. Lutz, D. Sweeney
- **Stratford Town**: J. Weaver, A. White, D. Vann, F. Brennan, F. Cook, D. Lafferty, C. Farr, O. James, H. Hawkins, J. Storer, K. Bastos

Prediction:

**Worcester City 2–0 Stratford Town**. Worcester lean on better form and composure to advance comfortably. 🎯