Saturday, February 19, 2005

IT may well have been a horrible, scrappy battle -- but Worcester City won't give two hoots.

Three points is the most important end product for relegation-threatened City right now and the manager, players and supporters are not bothered how it comes.

Leon Kelly's first-half strike at freezing St George's Lane was enough to gift Andy Preece his first win as player-boss, register Worcester's first win of 2005 and condemn plucky Vauxhall Motors to their second Nationwide North defeat in five days.

The quality of football on show was what you may expect from two sides hovering dangerously near the drop-zone with points at a premium -- near to nothing.

But for sheer determination and a passion to get themselves out of a desperate hole, Worcester were clearly worthy winners and this narrow victory could be the springboard for better things.

The signs are certainly promising with four points taken from two games and back-to-back clean sheets too.

"When you've been on such a run as we've been," said Preece. "To get that first win it does not matter how it comes.

"You just need to get it and get on a roll. I felt with the performance at Alfreton, if we did exactly the same that we did there, then we would get the result.

"Make no bones about it, Vauxhall came here and had a right go. They were up for it. That's even more pleasing that we managed to beat a team that has come here and really wanted to win the game.

"I don't think it was easy for us, they made it very difficult and they competed and battled throughout the game.

"We've had to compete with that and fortunately we've got the goal and it was one of those games that probably one goal was always going to decide it.

"Leon has done ever so well for the goal. It's out of nothing really. It's a good ball by Snapper and then he's used his pace and his strength to get in and show composure in slotting it home."

Preece adopted the 5-3-2 system that worked well at Alfreton, with Les Hines replacing Paul Carty at left-back and teenage goalkeeper, the lucky charm James Coates, standing in for suspended Danny McDonnell.

City's midfield came to the fore again with snapping, snarling John Snape excellent in breaking up play and Nick Colley moving the ball quickly across the park with Jai Stanley.

Towering Colin Hoyle protected Coates superbly with Carl Heeley and Barry Woolley in support, while front two Kelly and Adam Webster ran hard, despite a dearth of chances being threaded their way.

Worcester bagged the opener on 16 minutes but the Motormen could have stolen the advantage if Phil Brazier had kept his head.

Heeley failed to clear a free-kick which Anthony Wright nodded into the path of Brazier, only for the midfielder to fluff his line and fire over unmarked from eight yards out.

City were quick to punish the visitors when Kelly latched on to Snape's ball down the left hand channel, rided the weak challenge of Motors 'keeper Tim Dittmer and side-footed a low bobbling shot into the far corner of the net.

Coates was called into action on 34 minutes to deny Steve McNulty's 20-yard drive, while, after the break, Webster shot wide inside the box from Colley's squared pass.

Hoyle had a close-range shot blocked on 77 minutes and another header flew wide as City pressed for a second.

Chris Noone's injury-time lob ended an ugly spectacle which was made worse by the over-fussy official John Holbrook from Kidderminster.

City: Coates 7, Warner 7, Hines 6, *Hoyle 8, Woolley 7, Heeley 7, Stanley 6 (Warmer 66, 6), Colley 7, Kelly 7, Webster 6, Snape 8. Subs not used: Lyons, Clegg, Smith, Skyers.

Attendance: 823.