Monday, August 4, 2003

FIFTEEN minutes into Worcester City' friendly with Wolves last night and John Barton was feeling distinctly hot under the collar.

Sizzling Wolves had scorched through City's brittle defences three times, to leave the St George's Lane club facing a drubbing.

Allan Davies' mistake for the third summed up a sloppy start by City and the omens looked bleak with the 2,511 crowd sensing further carnage at the home end.

But with all eyes on the deadly duo of John Melligan and hat-trick hero Jimmi-Lee Jones it was Leon Kelly who stole the limelight, producing a goal from almost nothing.

From being comprehensively out-played, City edged back into the contest and Barton was able to walk off the pitch after 90 stifling minutes with a respectable 3-2 defeat.

City however must brush up on starting games quicker to avoid leaving mountains to climb, as Barton conceded.

"The first 20 minutes we were defensively all over the place," he said. "We would have been three down against a Dr Martens Premier Division side let alone a Wolves side with defending like that.

"But after 35 minutes we started to play the game and got closer still in the second half."

With the start of the Dr Martens season less than two weeks away, the key striking roles looked decided with the rejuvenated Mark Owen and Kelly in pole position.

Adam Webster looks set for a run in right midfield where his footballing abilities, allied to his phenomenal work-rate, can prosper.

Mitch Counsell, who left Marlon Walters in a crumpled heap after a particularly crunching challenge, could yet be a surprise package in the City line-up.

He didn't waste a ball and if he can add precision to his game could yet force his way into central midfield alongside John Snape, who endured a torrid first half before slowly getting to grips with the pace of the game.

Substitute Darren Middleton's late strike was a reminder of his goal threat.