Tuesday, September 22, 2004

WORCESTER City crashed to their second consecutive Nationwide North defeat last night as defensive mistakes gifted Worksop a comfortable 2-0 win at St George's Lane.

Disastrous first-half errors in the City back-line handed Worksop forwards Dene Cropper and Simeon Bambrook the easiest of chances to wrap up the points.

It was a night to forget as carelessness and hesitancy plagued the home side's defence -- only poor finishing preventing the visitors travelling back to Nottinghamshire with a greater margin of victory.

The result may have taken on a different look had City tucked away one or two opportunities that also came their way in a topsy-turvy opening half.

Adam Webster, missing strike partner and City's leading scorer Leon Kelly who was absent with a back injury, was guilty of spurning the home side's best openings.

But too many City players went missing and there was a distinct lack of confidence following Saturday's narrow loss at Ashton United.

City manager John Barton said: "It was defensive errors that cost us. It was a disappointing night, a disappointing performance and a disappointing result. We just weren't good enough in both penalty boxes."

Barton gambled on the fitness of Jai Stanley, missing from City's last two fixtures, and played in an unfamiliar second striker role behind Webster.

The partnership worked well on occasions and following calls for a Worksop penalty on 23 minutes, Stanley threaded the ball through to Webster who shot past goalkeeper Kris Rogers into the net, only for the assistant referee to rule his effort off-side.

Moments later, Rob Warner's cross was smashed just wide of the post by Webster on the half-volley, and Webster's header from Stanley's pin-point free-kick landed in the arms of Rogers.

City then hit the self-destruct button at the back. Colin Hoyle fouled Chris Cleary outside the box on 29 minutes and the resultant free-kick was headed home by the unmarked Cropper.

Confusion between City keeper Aaron Kerr and Hoyle let in Cleary after the re-start, his shot trickling into the side netting, but another mistake let in Town for their second on 42 minutes.

Bambrook punished Hoyle's intercepted pass as he raced down the left-hand channel and coolly clipped the ball over Kerr from 12 yards.

Kerr saved Cleary's effort within a minute of the second-half, then Stanley went close on 56 minutes with a 25-yard deflected strike before Webster's late header sailed over the bar.

City: Kerr 6, Warner 6, Hines 6, Hoyle 5, Heeley 5, Carty 6 (Hobbs 52, 6), Colley 5 (Smith 82), McDonald 5, Webster 6, *Stanley 7, Lyons 6 (Davies 76). Subs (not used): Khan, Skyers. Attendance: 802

John Snape is due to play for City's reserves tonight at Kidderminster in a Central Conference game (7.30).