Saturday, September 25, 2004

AS one of England's most famous Spa towns, Harrogate has enjoyed for centuries its reputation as a centre to cure stress.

However, it will take more than plunge pools, body wraps and Indian head massages to treat the headache suffered by John Barton and his players in North Yorkshire.

Worcester City were more than a little dazed and confused exiting Wetherby Road after yet another Nationwide North defeat.

A third league loss in eight days is painful enough but what had City heading for the headache pills was an absence in fortune when they needed it most.

They deserved much more after cracking the woodwork three times and matching for long periods a Harrogate side which had won four and drawn one of its opening five fixtures at home.

Goals late on by dangermen Colin Hunter and James Turley secured the points for Town but it could have been different had City enjoyed the rub of the green.

Sadly there has not been a great deal of luck at St George's Lane lately, especially on the injury front where the crocked list almost reached double figures.

Nine City players were sidelined and it meant Barton had to reshuffle his limited pack once again.

Striker Adam Webster, passing a late fitness test, was partnered by Nick Colley with Jai Stanley and Leon Kelly missing, while Rob Warner had an effective game in right midfield as Allan Davies started his first league game this term at full-back.

Colin Hoyle and captain Carl Heeley were below par against Worksop last Tuesday but the defensive duo returned with a more authoritative display in front of Aaron Kerr who played his last match in City colours with Danny McDonnell to return in goal next week.

Town fashioned the game's first clear-cut opening on 15 minutes when Ian Blackstone found himself unmarked to head Mark Barnard's cross, only for Kerr to acrobatically tip the effort away.

Then it was City's turn two minutes later on the counter-attack, Liam McDonald latching onto Webster's low cross inside the box and firing a first-time shot which cannoned into Paul Shepherd before the ball was cleared to safety.

The onus was on Town to put numbers forward and it worked to Worcester's advantage on the break, especially on 34 minutes when the visitors did all but score as they struck the woodwork twice.

Les Hines beat a defender, galloped down the left and delivered a perfect cross for Webster whose header smashed the post.

Warner rifled the rebound against the underside of the bar, City then claimed for a penalty as a hand seemed to charge down another effort and the drama ended to Harrogate's relief when Hines' follow-up was deflected wide.

The game stretched open early in the second-half as both sides fancied their chances of breaking the deadlock.

A 20-yard drive from Turley whistled past the post, while at the other end Colley twisted and turned full-back Barnard before losing his composure and drilling wide.

It took an error on the edge of the box for Town to open the scoring on 73 minutes.

Paul Carty's rushed clearance looped to Blackstone who knocked the ball into the path of Hunter, the winger then smashing a left-foot volley which Kerr could only parry into the far corner.

City tried to respond but were denied again by the post, this time McDonald foiled with a rasping low shot on 78 minutes.

Town wrapped up the points with three minutes remaining, Turley running onto sub Shabir Khan's headed clearance to volley home from eight yards.