Saturday, January 29, 2005

JANUARY 2005 has to go down as one of Worcester City's worst months in recent history.

A month starting off on the wrong foot with a miserable 2-0 New Year's Day reverse at Nuneaton Borough and ending with Saturday's bleak loss to Worksop Town by the same scoreline.

A month where St George's Lane held a 'January Sale' of its own for visiting teams, with Nuneaton, Ashton United and Harrogate Town all picking up a point or three at Worcester's headquarters.

A month where hungrier opponents saw off City in both the FA Trophy and GLS Cup. And finally, there was the small matter of the manager resigning somewhere in between.

It truly is a month for everybody connected with Worcester to forget, to tear from the diary and consign to the wastebin.

But there's an old clich that when you hit rock bottom, the only way is up, and that's how City must look at things with a new manager set to be appointed within the next few days.

Whoever steps in to John Barton's shoes is likely to have been at Babbage Way to witness the latest, depressing chapter in Worcester's winter of discontent.

Mark Wilson and Paul Dempsey scored in either half as Worksop cruised to a relatively comfortable victory over City. Once again, the scoreline could have had a nastier look but for the brilliance of Danny McDonnell.

City had their equal share of possession but their use of the ball was very poor in the final third of the pitch, and Town 'keeper Kris Rogers barely broke sweat all afternoon.

Eyebrows were raised with caretaker boss John Snape's midfield pick. Jai Stanley and Pat Lyons, both regulars under Barton, were selected for the bench while Nick Colley, an almost ever-present when fit, was absent from the squad of 16.

In hindsight, Colley's crossing ability from wide was sorely missed as City had no joy penetrating the centre of Worksop's defence.

Graham Selby, assisting Snape following Barton's exit, said: "We are obviously disappointed. There's a couple of major concerns for us right now.

"We don't look like scoring and we just can't keep a clean sheet.

"It's getting a bit of a concern now and I think the board are going to work really hard to try and get somebody in really quickly.

"The first goal was important and in conceding that, Worksop did not have to chase the game and we did. It started to make things ragged, especially the longer the game went on, and that's why the second goal came.

"Nick has had a few little niggles but he was fit for the game. It was a decision by John to pick the side and squad. Away from home, he wanted a side that was going to compete and be strong."

Blake Norton almost put Town in front on six minutes after dashing inside Barry Woolley but drilling his low shot past the far post.

But the hosts registered the opener on 22 minutes. A poor clearance from Woolley was swept out wide to Kevin Davies, whose cross was punched clear by McDonnell, only for the second delivery to be smashed home by Wilson with an alarming amount of time to steady his shot.

City had their first shot on goal on 32 minutes when Colin Hoyle's long ball was picked up by Leon Kelly, but his effort went straight at Rogers.

Tom Warmer wasted a decent three-on-two counter attack moments later, scuffing his 30-yard effort when a through-ball to Adam Webster or Alex Volosanovs were better options.

Volosanovs blasted City's best chance over the bar on 56 minutes following Kelly's knock-down -- but then it was all Worksop.

McDonnell produced a great stop from Dene Cropper and beat away Norton's fierce drive after the striker's pace left Rob Warner trailing.

The second came with five minutes left, sub Gary Townsend controlling a cross from the right before teeing up Dempsey, whose composed low shot gave McDonnell no chance.

City: *McDonnell 8, Warner 5, Khan 6 (Lyons 58, 6), Hoyle 6, Heeley 5, Woolley 5, Volosanovs 5, Snape 5 (Stanley 58, 6), Kelly 5, Webster 5, Warmer 5 (Hines 82). Subs not used: Gardiner, Skyers.

Attendance: 442.