AT home, in pubs and during work, Worcester City supporters will all be debating what went wrong at St George's Lane on Saturday.

Everybody will have their own version on why or how a seemingly comfortable victory over lowly Ashton United turned into a sorry shambles within a short blink of an eyelid.

But no matter what each individual's take is into the Ashtongate inquiry (apologies to any Bristol City fans), each will come to the same conclusion -- City won't finish in the Nationwide North play-offs if such performances are repeated on a regular basis in the second-half of the season.

They probably won't even come close to a top-six place, with mid-table mediocrity the likely ending.

All the more worrying for Lane followers is that City were made to look distinctly poor, not by leaders Kettering, although that has happened, Southport or Harrogate, but by a side scratching desperately for points near the relegation zone.

Although Ashton nicked a single-goal victory at rivals Droylsden on January 2, they lost nine and drew three in 12 previous competitive games and looked a good bet to drop back to the UniBond Premier Division.

Manager John Barton even admitted after the game: "The record shows that they are not the best team in the division."

Despite a few players feeling under the cosh with the 'flu, surely City had enough class to roll over the tottering Tamesiders.

For roughly 52 minutes, everything looked rosy albeit a few scares at the back when City grabbed a two-goal lead through Adam Webster, which followed Tom Warmer's speculative first-half strike.

But from a seemingly impregnable position, City lost their advantage and then lost their way entirely through haphazard defending. Buoyant Ashton fashioned excellent opportunities in every attack.

If Danny McDonnell hadn't been on top form to shut out half a dozen shots on target, and had United's finishing been executed more ruthlessly, the scoreline could have been embarrassing.

McDonnell's outstanding performance between the sticks matched the display at Kettering last month and maintained his reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in non-league football.

Perhaps it's not time to for panic stations, but the fact remains that City have not kept a clean sheet in the league since the goalless draw against Alfreton Town a little over three months ago.

Shut-outs from a solid defensive unit will be a key requirement if Barton's side are to make a big push for the play-offs.

Saturday looked to have been the ideal chance to register that clean sheet, yet City's back-four again got caught out by a strikeforce with pace and power.

Whether by changing personnel or dipping into the transfer market, Barton has got a tough job putting the steel back into his rearguard.