JOHN Barton insists the foundations have now been laid for Worcester City to start converting draws into wins following Saturday's share of the spoils at high-flying Southport.

Goals from Colin Hoyle and Mark Owen helped secure a point as City held firm for a 2-2 draw in an action-packed Nationwide North clash at Haig Avenue.

City jumped up one place in the league table but are still without a victory in their last seven competitive matches as they prepare for tomorrow night's trip to struggling Vauxhall Motors.

The City manager was delighted to hold the West Lancashire outfit on their own patch and applauded his side's defending as title-chasing Southport pressed for a winner.

Although the result proved to be City's eighth draw in 14 league encounters, Barton believes there is now light at the end of the tunnel and predicts the club are slowly on an upward curve.

He said: "We showed the same sort of character that we showed against Alfreton Town. All the players worked hard and worked for one another.

"There was some excellent defending at times. A lot of bodies were being thrown late in the game and I thought our big players stood up to be counted.

"We've now got to try and get back to the quality of football we were playing earlier this season. I was pleased with a point but we've got to turn more of these draws into wins. That's the next stage for us and the game at Vauxhall Motors provides us with that opportunity, which I'm sure we can take."

Barton praised striker Owen and player-coach John Snape who both started their first game of the season following injury lay-offs.

"Mark ran his socks off and that is what I expected of him and everybody else. I thought he took his goal really well and Hoyley got in a really good header for our first goal. It was also good to have Snapper back."

Welsh U19 and U21 international James Coates, on-loan from Welsh outfit Total Network Solutions, played in goal for City and is likely to be handed the gloves again at Vauxhall Motors.