Monday, January 13, 2003

ST George's Lane was not a place for the faint-hearted last night.

A nervy Worcester City edged past Newport County 3-2 after enduring a fraught final 11 minutes having contrived to throw away a three-goal lead against ten men and jeopardise a home fourth round FA Trophy clash with Nationwide Conference side Margate.

That conclusion had appeared a million miles away when Adam Webster notched a brilliant third goal, and his second, with 73 minutes played on the clock.

Webster's first and a dubious Darren Middleton penalty had seemingly paved the way for a smooth passage into the next round, but battling Newport ensured a nerve-jangling ending with two goals in the space of three minutes.

Such was the sense of capitulation in the final quarter of an hour that City manager John Barton admitted the home dressing room carried an air of defeat rather than victory following the final whistle.

What made the late collapse harder to fathom was that Worcester had been playing against a depleted County after Matthew Rose was sent off for stamping on Middleton in the 64th minute.

Ultimately though Worcester's nerve held firm, as it has so often this season, and fittingly Webster's perfectly executed chip proved to be the decisive goal.

As a spectacle there was much to enjoy with crisp passing and good movement particularly from David Holmes and Webster.

Indeed, but for some exceptionally fussy refereeing from the inappropriately named Kevin Friend there could have been a lot more. But the Leicester official proved both whistle and card happy, brandishing six yellows and one red, which was no reflection on the spirit the cup tie was played in.

City opened the scoring on 26 minutes when an electric break by Adam Wilde saw his cross only half cleared by Billy Clarke to the lurking Webster who fired acrobatically into the net.

Ten minutes into the second-half Middleton made it two with a penalty after he was tripped by Steve Benton and it appeared to be game, set, and match when Webster's ice cool chip left Pat Mountain rooted to the spot. But Walker and Plant strikes in the 76th and 79th minutes saw City heartbeats fluttering nervously right up to the final whistle.

WORCESTER: McDonnell 7, Davies 6, Carty 8, Heeley 8, Blount 6, Holloway 6, Middleton 7 (Jones 85), Lyons 6, H Webster 9, Holmes 8, Wilde 7 (Tomkins 77). Subs: Willetts, McDonald, Wyatt. Attendance 1,128.