WORCESTER City boss John Barton will have to watch Saturday's FA Umbro Trophy second round tie at Hendon from the stands after being handed a touchline ban.

Barton has been banned from the City bench for three games by the Football Association, and will have to leave coach Mick Tuohy and head of scouting Graham Selby in direct charge.

He has already served two matches of the ban -- Saturday's goalless draw with Weymouth and last week's Worcester Royal Infirmary Senior Cup win over Westfields, which was classed as a first-team fixture.

The charge stems from the 1-0 home defeat against Salisbury City in September, when City conceded the only goal in injury-time and Barton was reported by Hereford referee Andy Williams for comments made to the officials.

The postponement of tomorrow's league game at Clevedon Town now means that he will complete the ban in the Trophy clash.

Barton, who was forced to watch from the directors' box on Saturday, said: "The incident itself is not worth talking about. But it is torture watching from the stands - you feel distanced.

"But there are ways and means round it, and I know Mick and Graham will do an excellent job on the bench."

City's draw was still enough to lift them into seventh place in the Dr Martens League Premier Division, and extended their fine run to just one defeat in the last 11 games. However, they have slipped seven points behind new leaders Margate.

Meanwhile, transfer-listed defender Mark Tucker is confident they can achieve a result on Saturday at Ryman Premier Division side Hendon.

He said: "It is a very important game but is nice to have a distraction from the league. Points are all important but if we can keep a cup run going late in the season it can only help confidence.

"I don't know much about them other than they have got a couple of experienced players."