Weymouth 0 Worcester City 0

TOP of John Barton's Christmas wish list must be several pairs of new shooting boots.

City's manager will also be tempted to add a few coaching videos detailing the art of possession and self help books in a bid to boost his players' flagging confidence.

True a third successive goalless draw at Weymouth kept the points tally ticking over but Worcester are rapidly undoing all their early season's good work by their abject failure to hit the net.

Individually and collectively City failed to deliver at the Wessex Stadium and while they enjoyed the plaudits for their terrific start to the season they must bear the brunt of criticism following a generally poor second half display.

It could have all been so different had Adam Wilde managed to sweep home a ball inside the first minute after poking it past Terras' keeper Jason Matthews on the edge of the area but his effort bobbled feebly wide, summing up the current troubles in front of goal.

The visitors lined up with a 4-5-1 formation with Wilde and David Holmes given a brief to push on and link up with Adam Webster effectively making it three up front.

It might have made sense on paper but the shape of the side was increasingly compromised as the pair plus the roaming figure of Darren Middleton were frequently caught up field as play broke down.

City's best spell of play came during the first 20 minutes but too often attacks foundered and a penalty shout on Holmes aside and a spilled cross from Matthews there was little of substance to show for it.

A piece of Middleton magic in the 18th minute nearly broke the deadlock but after bursting into the box his angled left foot shot was beaten out by Matthews.

The Dorset side weathered Worcester's early pressure and began to stake their claim for a goal, coming closest when an unmarked Matt Hale flashed a half volley wide from 10 yards in the 25th minute - a move started by a miscued Holmes pass.

Jon Holloway, deputising for the injured John Snape in midfield, was then booked after a mistake by Paul Carty left the ex-Bath City man frantically putting in a late challenge to stop Lee Phillips racing clear down the right flank.

At the other end Holmes came close to scoring with a diving header in the 35th minute but Matthews denied him brilliantly and the loose ball just eluded the incoming Webster before being cleared.

After the interval Geoff Buter's side rallied as Barton's side wilted and Carl Heeley needed all his nous to haul back Phillips as he raced onto a hopeful punt up field.

Dan Jones, accomplished for much of the match, was then caught napping in the 53rd minute by Julian Charles but the forward undid his good work by blasting over with just Danny McDonnell to beat.

City continued to engineer chances but to little success though a mazy run by Holmes in the 55th minute ended with a shot whistling past inches past the upright.

Wilde fired a free kick straight at Matthews before Charles spurned a gilt-edged opening for Weymouth, heading wide unchallenged from six yards.

As the game wore on spaces opened up and a Middleton break teed up a great position for Webster but Matthews sprang to his left to thwart the visitors once again.

Barton's search for a goal led to the introduction of Mark Owen but it was captain Carl Heeley, so often the hero, who missed a golden opportunity from three yards after Asa Charlton's cut back in the 85th minute.

Charlton's impressive cameo continued into the dying minutes when he picked out Owen at the back post but his header across goal was belted, along with any hopes of victory, out of sight.

City's reign at the top of the Dr Martens Premier Division has ended but whether they can regain pole position depends on someone, somewhere finding their shooting boots - and quickly.