Saturday, February 19, 2000

WORCESTER City have only themselves to blame for slipping further into relegation trouble with a 1-0 defeat at Havant and Waterlooville.

If games were judged on the amount of possession each side had, City would have won by a cricket score.

But they didn't take their chances despite forcing 14 corners to Havant's none, and the home side capitalised on a rare opportunity, albeit in controversial fashion, to pinch the points.

With other results going against them, only goal difference now separates City from the relegation zone in the Dr Martens League Premier Division after they dropped one place to 18th.

Manager John Barton was a frustrated man afterwards as he declared: "It wasn't a good performance but we have had enough possession during the game to have won three matches.

"Chances came fairly regularly throughout the game, but we haven't taken them. They have had two shots in the game and they hit the bar with one and scored the goal."

Barton's mood was not improved by the nature of the goal, when City claimed that midfielder Ian Cottrill had been fouled in the build-up.

The City boss added: "The referee has admitted at half-time that he has made a mistake. It is just disappointing that the situation like that has ultimately decided the game."

Barton opted for a 4-5-1 formation which was changed in the second-half as City chased the game, but it was something of a surprise when 23-goal top-scorer Mark Owen was the man replaced.

Barton added: "It was purely tactical. On the day it wasn't the Mark we have seen of late, and substitutes are there to change it as you see fit."

The tone of the match was set from the start with Worcester pinning the home side back, but clear-cut chances were few and far between with the final pass not living up to the approach work.

City's best chances before the interval saw Martin Weir have a header cleared off the line and Owen's follow-up being well saved by Havant goalkeeper Sal Bibbo, while Weir's close-range effort hit the post from a Jon Purdie free-kick.

But on 35 minutes it was the home side who got the all-important goal, which stemmed from a midfield tackle on Cottrill which most City players thought was a foul. Referee Barrie Wade, however, waved play on and Matt Jones escaped down the right flank before slotting the ball through the legs of the advancing Danny Watson.

The league's top scorer James Taylor hit the bar early in the second-half, but that was the only time he threatened as Weir and Mark Tucker kept a tight rein on him.

Kevin Willetts also continued his fine recent form at left-back, but it was at the other end that Worcester were found wanting.

The pressure continued but the moves kept breaking down although Bradley Sandeman fired inches wide at the end of their best move.

Their best chance ironically came when home defender David Milkins' back-pass caught Bibbo off his line but the home keeper arched backwards to tip the ball over the bar.