Monday, December 8, 2003

WORCESTER City manager John Barton admitted his side rode their luck to make it through to the next round of the Dr Martens League Cup after a dismal display against Sutton Coldfield last night.

The St George's Lane club needed penalties to book a place in the fourth round after the scores were level at 1-1 following extra time.

City held their nerve to win the shoot-out 5-4 with Sutton's Lucan Spittle dragging his penalty wide to give the home side victory.

Barton though was far from impressed. "It was very disappointing," he said.

"Okay there were a few changes last night, but in my opinion there was still strength in the side we put out against Sutton and we got an excellent goal early on.

"But from then on in it went downhill I'm afraid. Sutton were very spirited and I can see why they are doing well in the Western Division.

"The chances Sutton had early on were coming at will and with all due respect to them if we had been playing a side in our league perhaps the game would have been lost by then."

An own goal after 75 seconds put City ahead but it proved a false dawn as a lack of urgency and creativity enabled Sutton to have the better chances early on which they capitalised on in the 32nd minute when Dean Perrow punished a catalogue of poor play.

Barton's side, already suffering an early blow with the loss of record signing Jai Stanley, whose cross forced the own goal by Neil Watkins, were facing another with a humiliating exit at the hands of lower league opponents on the cards.

Mark Owen spurned two gilt-edged chances to put Worcester ahead after the break, sending the tie into extra-time where Pat Lyons wasted the best opportunity with a tame effort after a superb pass by John Snape.

The inevitable penalties followed with Paul Carty, Adam Wilde, Adam Webster, Leon Kelly and Carl Heeley on target and Owen and Lyons missing.

Worcester: McDonnell 6, Parker 5, Carty 7, Woolley 5, Heeley 6, Lyons 4, Stanley (Snape 18, 6), Foy 4 (Webster 65, 6), Owen 6, Middleton 4 (Kelly 68, 6), Wilde 4. Attendance: 277.