WORCESTER City boss John Barton has hit out at the lack of reserve team soccer that has affected his recent planning.

Thanks to the weather and several other factors, City have played just one match in the Central Conference in the last two months - a 1-1 home draw with Rushden and Diamonds 10 days ago - and only eight all season.

They are due to play at Kidderminster Harriers this Tuesday and at home to Harriers again in the league cup the following Wednesday and will then face a busy programme for the rest of the season as they try to fit in a total of 10 more games in league and league cup.

The lack of games has proved a big handicap to Barton in his efforts to get long-term injury victims Andy Ellis and Chris Greenman back to match fitness.

Ellis, for example, has said he's been fit for action since mid-December following his long absence with a broken leg, but had to wait until the Rushden game before being able to play competitively.

And it's also deprived his fringe first-team squad members - youngsters such as Paul Wyatt, Wesley Joyce, Danny Scheppel, Marc Burrow and Chris Jefferson, the latter having just gone on the transfer list - of regular action which they desperately need.

With only nine teams in the league, clubs are guaranteed only 16 league games plus at least four others in a round-robin cup competition - and Barton believes that's not enough.

He said: "I think we need at least 30 games at reserve team level. That is something that would be adequate to cope with, would be beneficial to people who are part of it and be helpful first-team wise as well.

"It has been very tough and disappointing for the players and disappointing for us.

"There is nothing worse than training and not being involved so much at first-team level but still having nothing to show from the end of your week's work."