Tuesday, February 3, 2004

WORCESTER City's hoodoo struck again last night when a stoppage time equaliser robbed them of three points at Bath City.

It's 22 seasons since City last beat the Romans at Twerton Park, stretching back to November 1981, but that looked set to end after Leon Kelly put them ahead in the 68th minute.

But 30 seconds into injury time, Carl Heeley conceded a free kick from which Scott Partridge prodded home the leveller as the Dr Martens Premier Division clash ended 1-1.

It was a massive blow to John Barton's side, who failed to make their superiority pay and missed a chance to close the gap on leaders Weymouth to six points.

Kelly spurned a great chance to double the lead in the 82nd minute, choosing to shoot instead of passing to unmarked substitute Jai Stanley.

However Barton urged his players to forget the last minute heartbreak and keep their heads high.

"The dressing room was very disappointed but we must be careful we don't take that disappointment to Tiverton on Saturday," he said.

"Performance wise, it was strong enough to win the game and after a tentative start I thought there was only one team that was going to win it.

"We had opportunities to get in an unassailable position but give Bath credit, they are fighting for their lives and will give teams a run for their money in the games they've got left.

"Aside from the disappointment of conceding a late goal there were some encouraging signs.

"It wasn't pretty to start with but we showed a bit of doggedness without being spectacular but on nights like those and on a heavy pitch those are characteristics you are going to need.

"But it's a measure of recent progress the fact we are so disappointed at drawing."

Buoyant City took time to settle before some good play gave them the upper hand but chances remained at a premium.

A dipping Mark Owen volley, with his right foot, on the hour mark, was the closest they came to breaking the deadlock before the powerful Kelly raced on to a Stanley flick-on to claim what looked like the decisive goal.

But with seconds ticking away and a fourth successive league win beckoning, Partridge pounced to deny jinxed City valuable points.

City: McDonnell 7, Davies 6, Carty 7, Holloway 7, Heeley 7, Snape 7, McDonald 7 (Stanley 65, 7), Lyons 6, Owen 7 (Webster 84), Kelly 8, Wilde 7. Subs (not used): Skyers, Middleton, Woolley.

Attendance: 486.