Worcester City 2 Stafford Rangers 4

WORCESTER City manager John Barton must be wishing that he had got stuck on the motorway for a little bit longer.

Barton only arrived at St Georges Lane minutes before the kick-off of Saturdays home clash with Stafford Rangers, having been caught up in a huge traffic jam on the M42.

His mood was not improved by his team's subsequent display, as they failed to live up to the promise of their opening two Dr Martens League Premier Division games by crashing 4-2 to the newly-promoted visitors.

City largely contributed to their own downfall with some uncharacteristically sloppy defending, enabling the outstanding Scott Dundas to claim a hat-trick.

Defender Mark Tucker said afterwards: "It is disappointing, especially after the opening two games when we felt we played well, passed it well and looked like a team.

"It is hard to put your finger on what happened today, but we just didn't start. The back four made the same mistakes for each of the goals, which is unforgivable."

Like his manager, Tucker was also held up on the motorway en route to the game.

He said: "It doesnt really make a difference but there were a few people before the game who didn't feel quite at the races as we were in the last two games.

"We went to Tamworth as a good away side, played some good football and caught them on the break, and then defended very well after Danny McDonnell had been sent off.

"Monday against Bath was one of the best performances since I have been here, but today was nothing to do with the first two games.

"The players and backroom staff were very disappointed afterwards, as, I would imagine, were the supporters. We feel we have let them down.

"We need to learn from it, but hopefully it will be our one and only blip."

City, who were not helped by injuries to midfielder Paul Carty (broken toe) and winger Ian Reed (hamstring) fielded the same starting line-up as in the goalless draw with Bath, with Paul Hayward again deputising for McDonnell.

Yet the performance was poles apart from the Bath game, with Stafford's more direct approach causing them far more problems.

Dundas' intelligent distribution and eye for goal stood out from the start, although the first goal was presented to him on a plate on 19 minutes when Nathan Jukes misdirected a header from goalkeeper Richard Williams' long clearance straight into his path, and he finished with a low drive from 15 yards.

Eight minutes later another long clearance from Williams was flicked on and Dundas found himself in space behind a dozing defence. Hayward blocked his effort but Dundas made no mistake with the rebound.

City, who haven't won a league game at St Georges Lane since February, rarely looked like recovering although Steve Lutz, the hard-working Carl Heeley -- who moved into midfield after Carty's injury -- and Mark Owen all went close, and visiting striker Tony Eccleston was lucky to stay on the field after an horrendous lunge on substitute Wesley Joyce.

They were fortunate not to go further behind when that man Dundas again caused havoc and set up an easy chance for Stephen Jones who unaccountably hit the bar from a yard out.

It briefly looked as though that might be the stroke of luck City needed as, with 10 minutes left, Heeley finished off Mike Wyatt's low cross from close range.

Three minutes later, though, City's defence was found wanting again as Dundas got behind them again, and he squared the ball for substitute Darren Middleton to finish with ease.

City still weren't finished and on 86 minutes teenager Joyce, who certainly didn't lack for effort after taking over in the centre of defence following Heeley's switch, headed home Wyatt's right-wing corner for his first City goal.

But two minutes later Dundas gave him the slip and his subsequent rash tackle brought an easy penalty award, which Dundas duly converted to complete his hat-trick.