Tuesday, September 9, 2003

BAD luck and poor finishing combined to de-rail Worcester City as they lost 1-0 at Weston-super-Mare last night.

A fluke goal on the hour defeated City but on their first league visit to the seaside town they ultimately paid the price for missing a bucket-load of chances to kill off the Seagulls.

It left boss John Barton bemoaning his side's lack of a clinical streak and City down in third spot in the Dr Martens Premier Division after Weymouth won 3-1 at Chippenham to leapfrog them.

"We need to be more ruthless in front of goal, it's as simple as that," said Barton.

"We were much better than Saturday and it was a good first half display but as long as it's 0-0 you are susceptible.

"We didn't take our chances and it was back to the old boxing scenario of having them on them on the ropes and letting them off the hook."

Chief culprit was Leon Kelly whose pace and power forced a superb opening after just 10 minutes but with Mark Owen in front of a gaping goal, the forward went for an ambitious effort from almost on the byline.

Barton admitted the striker had lost his head after his brilliant surging run had engineered the opening.

"He's terrorised them down the flank but needed a bit of composure to roll it back to Mark who had an empty net in front of him," added Barton.

Kelly spurned another chance in the second half but Owen, Adam Wilde and Adam Webster also had good scoring opportunities to have put the game beyond reach by the break.

Barton had sprung a surprise with two changes before kick-off, gambling on David Foy's fitness in midfield and installing David Holmes at left back in place of Paul Carty (tight hamstring).

It paid immediate dividends as City shrugged off the disappointment of Saturday's display to produce a blistering opening 45 minutes.

Weston's defences had no retort to City's hunger, work-rate and improved ball retention.

Yet the breakthrough proved elusive and after a stuttering start to the second half City were rocked by a double helping of misfortune in the 60th minute.

Taking advantage of a blatant handball Weston caught City on the hop and Mark McKeever's mis-hit cross then deceived Danny McDonnell to fly into the net.

Worcester: McDonnell 6, Davies 7, Heeley 7, Holmes 7, Holloway 8, Foy 7 (Middleton 88), Snape 6, Wilde 7, Owen 7 (Hadley 71), Kelly 7, Webster 7 (Lyons 71). Subs not used: Parker, Hayes.

Attendance: 450.