Tamworth 1 Worcester City 2

TAMWORTH fans gathered in their hoardes expecting a killing but it was Lambs blood that was spilled by street-wise Worcester.

In an enthralling clash that lived up to its top of the table billing John Barton's men soaked up early pressure before launching a classic smash-and-grab raid in the second half to win 2-1.

Ultimatley Darron Gee's men were reduced to Lamb chop status with substitute Darren Collins launching an injury time dive worthy of Mark Spitz in a desperate bid for a penalty.

By then it was too late however as City's superbly marshaled defences had withstood the best of an impressive onslaught that Gee's men could muster.

In a match that demanded heroes Danny McDonnell and Paul Carty were colossal, rebutting several Tamworth forays inside a frenetic opening spell.

Shellshocked by Tamworth's speed out of the blocks, Worcester were grateful to the magnificent McDonnell who denied Lamb debutants Steve Evans and Avun Jephcott at point blank range.

And when Jephcott did succeed in rounding McDonnell, Carty was on hand to clear off the line.

Barton's boys reeled under the ferocious early assault as Jephcott and Evans, ably supported by the wily Tony Hemmings, sliced almost at will through a static City back line.

Living up to their reputation as the best team in the Dr Martens Premier Division, Tamworth simply overwhelmed the visitors in the early stages.

Barton's decision to add some muscle to the midfield by moving Darren Middleton up front and putting Jon Holloway alongside John Snape was vindicated because the midfield needed every ounce of sinew to combat Tamworth.

Snape was just beginning to exert an influence on the game when in the 38th minute ex-Leicester City hardman Steve Walsh slid in high with a tackle that was brutal in its execution and literally horrific in its legacy.

City chairman Dr Mike Sorensen, who attended the player described the damage to Snape's leg as 'horrendous'.

Spurred on by the loss of Snape and the introduction of Adam Webster City jettisoned the tension and nervousness that had dogged their first half display and within three minutes of the re-start were in front.

Early pressure resulted in a corner which Adam Wilde swung over with deadly accuracy for the rising figure of Mark Blount to power in from two yards.

It sparked ecstatic scenes amid the wonderful Worcester travelling contingent - numbering 461 through the segregated turnstiles - but with lung-power of twice that number.

However their joy was short-lived when Coventry City Academy starlet Jephcott sprang a high Worcester backline and coolly slotted past McDonnell.

Honours were far more even in the second half but while City threatened on the break, too often attacks petered out with the wrong ball or a misplaced pass.

Gee's side drove on but found a sharper and better shaped City though gaps still opened up.

Ex-City player Mark Hallam almost engineered a goal in the 62nd minute, his ball across the six-yard box tantalisingly evading lurking Tamworth boots, while two minutes later Mark Turner flashed a volley just over as the game hung in the balance.

Then came the pivotal moment and it came from the man who had suffered the disappointment of being dropped for the big clash.

Webster, tirelessly hardworking, proved his worth, brilliantly dispatching a David Holmes cushioned knock down from an Allan Davies long ball.

It was his seventh goal of the season and sparked pandemonium among the City faithful who still had an anxious 24 minutes to negotiate before they could fully celebrate.

Jephcott and Mark Cooper both missing excellent opportunities to square the match while Holmes spurned a chance to seal the points four minutes from time.

Eventually the final whistle sounded to jubilant scenes though anger at the Walsh tackle resurfaced among the stricken Snape's team-mates but it failed to tarnish a stunning victory that returns Worcester to top spot and issued a reminder to Tamworth that the title race is still very much wide open. Game on!