IT was nail-biting stuff at St George's Lane on Saturday but entirely fitting that City's most committed player grabbed the winning goal.

Jon Holloway endured a mixed season during his first year at Worcester, never quite justifying the billing, but has arguably been City's best player in pre season.

His bare-chested celebration against Hastings typified his gutsy approach to the game and sets the tone for two difficult matches at Tiverton Town tonight and Chelmsford City on Saturday.

City manager John Barton has never wavered in his faith in the former Bath City man even though he acknowledges last season had not quite lived up to expectations.

"He, more than anybody you can rest assured, was disappointed with the season that he had last year.

"Looking at some of his games in midfield, particularly at Newport County and Cambridge, he was outstanding but the reason we signed him was because he was having 40 games a season like that for Bath and he didn't do that.

"Jon's been playing at full back and many people would say perhaps that he had some of his best games in defence last year," said Barton.

"I think everybody knows Jon Holloway is no shirker and wants to do well and be a winner.

"At the moment he's doing a decent job at full back and it will be a nice test between him and Allan Davies but don't rule him out of the midfield equation either."

Never one to be anything less than brutally honest, Holloway told City fans, as he left the pitch after the final of the season, that they would see a different Jon Holloway next season and so far he looks as good as his word.

One goal and a series of solid performances have made him one of the first names on the team sheet when perhaps this year his place could have been under threat.

Away from the pitch, Stewart Hadley has been given the all clear to step up his training but is still six weeks away from starting.

It will be an anxious period with the spectre of surgery looming if he breaks down.

Utility player Marc Burrow continues to receive treatment for his back injury but has no firm comeback date.