Monday, April 13, 2004

WORCESTER City's hopes of a top three finish are fast receding after a third defeat in four games.

Goal-shy City fired a fourth successive blank yesterday as Stafford Rangers chalked up another league double over their rivals.

City toiled hard on a bumpy Marston Road surface but were bereft of attacking ideas with Rangers keeper James Lindley barely required to make a save.

On the day Crawley Town were crowned Dr Martens Premier Division champions, City very much resembled also-rans.

The cohesion that typified their play a month ago has evaporated with City's biggest hitters in the creativity department, Jai Stanley and Adam Wilde, providing little value in that area.

Neither was able to influence proceedings inside the opposition area and collectively City failed to trouble Rangers' defence to any great degree, passing the ball around at times but inevitably seeing moves break down.

Leon Kelly and Adam Webster foraged in vain but received little support.

While Carl Heeley impressed in defence, lapses elsewhere in the City backline, where 'keeper Shaun Hayes was making his league debut in place of the sick Danny McDonnell, ruined any chance of keeping a clean sheet.

On 23 minutes, Craig McAughtrie coolly side-footed home, despite being surrounded by at least three defenders as Lee Downes whipped in a cross from the right.

Seven minutes from time Robert Heath prodded in after the unmarked Neil Grayson headed down Alan Dodd's cross.

Heath wasted two good opportunities inside the first three minutes after more shaky defending.

City had glimpses of goal when Webster fired a cross-shot just wide but Kelly spurned a better opening on 13 minutes when he delayed shooting after breaching the offside trap.

Thereafter City tailed off as an attacking threat, though Barry Woolley should have equalised three minutes into the second half, heading a Wilde free kick wide at the back post.

Stafford missed gilt-edge chances through Heath and Dodd but the second half descended into a midfield war of attrition with little quality evident to suggest both sides were in the top four at the start of play.

Pat Lyons volleyed over on 64 minutes but it was all more in hope than expectation as City paid the price for a lack of cutting edge in midfield and out wide.

City: Hayes 6, Davies 6, Carty 7 (Holloway 87), Woolley 5, H Heeley 8, Snape 6, Lyons 6, Stanley 4, Wilde 4 (Middleton 76), Kelly 7, Webster 6. Subs (not used): Owen, McDonald, Skyers.

Attendance: 837.