SO Worcester City have finally lost their first game in the Nationwide North at Ashton United.

It was a fine run while it lasted and gave City fans something to cheer about, albeit for just a few days, as supporters of the last unbeaten side in the inaugural division.

But the sequence had to come to an end at some point.

Only the most optimistic City follower could expect it to run and run in glorious Arsenal-esque proportions.

Losing the unbeaten tag, however, to a side as limited as Ashton will have left a sour taste in the mouth for boss John Barton and his troops.

The Greater Manchester club were among the worst opponents City have faced this season, sound at the back but distinctly one-dimensional in attack, relying heavily on defensive mistakes for opportunities on goal.

Had City surrendered the superb run last Monday night at St George's Lane, when an impressive Kettering outfit ran them ragged for long periods, there would have been no complaints.

The big question now is how City will respond after tasting defeat for the first time.

They get their chance to avenge the result at the earliest opportunity, taking on out-of-sorts Worksop Town tonight, and that is surely a good thing. The betting man's money would be on Worcester to bounce back convincingly, with Town's away record of played five, won none, drawn two and lost three pointing to a home victory.

But what if a return to winning ways goes horribly wrong and City plunge to their second consecutive loss?

If it happened, previous talk of unbeaten runs will seem like a million miles away.

Barton pointed this out on the eve of Saturday's 1-0 defeat, saying: "There's the danger of talking about the unbeaten tag because it could all go horribly wrong and smack us back in the face. It can become a millstone around our neck."

What the manager needs right now is several of his injured stars back in the fray as quickly as possible. City's treatment room seems to become an ever busier place, defender Barry Woolley adding to the physio's workload last week with an ankle problem which will keep him out for up to three weeks.

However, it is encouraging that two or three of those crocked are a game away from a return to first-team action. Jai Stanley, Danny McDonnell and John Snape could all be raring to go for Saturday's trip to Harrogate Town.

The more numbers for Barton to choose from the better because, on the evidence at Ashton, a few players are looking jaded after a punishing league schedule.

City were at times rampant against Lancaster and Kettering, but that high-tempo spark and freshness was replaced with shades of tiredness and lethargy at United.

Rob Warner, Les Hines, Colin Hoyle, Paul Carty, Nick Colley, Adam Webster, Leon Kelly and Pat Lyons have started in each of City's 10 league games and it is inevitable that fatigue will set in on occasions.