Saturday, October 2, 2004

JEERS and heckles from a section of supporters was the final act at St George's Lane as the curtain came down on Worcester City's limp FA Cup efforts.

A murmur of dissatisfaction reverberated around the ground as Cambridge striker Dave Sadler lashed the goal to signal the end of City's cup journey before it had even begun.

But as most of City's faithful tutted and groaned to themselves at full-time, a few restless fans vented their spleen directly at manager John Barton and his players.

A low cup gate of 753 and the chorus of final whistle boos proves all is not well right now.

This was City's fourth straight defeat of the season. Morale is sapping from the team and the club's injury crisis fails to ease.

In fact, the treatment room deepens still. Just as Barton looked to have crossed off goalkeeper Danny McDonnell from the crocked sheet, the name is back on the list following a recurrence to his rib problem.

Things can't possibly get worse for City, right? Wrong. Conference North leaders Alfreton Town, four points ahead of the chasing pack, come to town this Friday intent on piling further misery.

A huge improvement in almost every department of the team is required if Alfreton are to return to Derbyshire empty-handed.

Despite an evenly matched first-half with Cambridge, City completely lost their way after the interval.

The departure of McDonnell at half-time for youngster Lewis Skyers could be argued as the beginning of City's demise.

The home defence were soon twitchy and unsettled without the reassurance of their premier goalkeeper.

Worcester made the brighter start and posed a couple of question marks in the Cambridge rearguard early on, Liam McDonald cracking the first shot on goal which Alan Calton coolly gathered with his right hand.

Nick Colley, one of City's better performers on a gloomy afternoon, scooped in a terrific cross on 10 minutes to Leon Kelly whose header flashed wide.

The ever-alert Robbie Simpson got his first sight of the City goal moments later with a 20-yard effort which fizzed over the bar.

It was on 19 minutes when McDonnell fell to the floor in agony, clutching his chest following a clash with his own captain Carl Heeley, and he stayed on bravely until the break.

McDonnell was on the pitch to celebrate City's opener on 34 minutes, one of the home side's few bright spots.

Rob Warner's throw-in was met by Colin Hoyle on the edge of box and despite pressure from three defenders, fired a right-foot volley past Calton.

A chance to double the lead was missed when Adam Webster screwed a right-foot volley across goal and wide of the post.

Webster also failed to convert a fine running cross from Kelly on 49 minutes, while a 20-yard drive from Pat Lyons sailed over.

From then on, Cambridge dominated and turned the tie around with two goals in five minutes.

John Stevenson popped in the equaliser on 59 minutes, receiving Rob Miller's through-ball before charging into the City box and slotting past Skyers into the bottom corner.

The visitors then grabbed the lead, Simpson bundling the ball over the line after his initial header from Robbie Williams' cross was spilled by Skyers.

Jai Stanley's 25-yard free-kick on 80 minutes clipped the roof of the net as City pushed for a draw but Cambridge soon sealed the tie with a stylish counter-attack.

Hoyle lost the ball on the edge of the Cambridge box to Stevenson, who found Sadler unmarked with a raking 30-yard pass, and he romped into the box and lashed a left-foot volley into the net.

City: McDonnell 6 (Skyers 46, 5), Davies 5, Hines 6, Hoyle 6, Heeley 5, Warner 5 (Warmer 81), *Colley 7, McDonald 5 (Stanley 70, 6), Webster 5, Kelly 6, Lyons 6. Subs not used: Smith, Parker.

Attendance: 753.