Wednesday, August 8, 2001

VETERAN striker Phil Stant rolled back the years to produce a battling performance and grab a goal in Worcester City's 3-2 friendly win against Nationwide Conference side Boston United.

The former Hereford United linked up well with St George's Lane favourite Mark Owen and had a hand in many of City's best moves last night.

Boston rested key players like Mike Marsh and the prolific Ken Charlery but still had some quality players on view including the much-travelled Carl Heggs who grabbed both United's goals.

City's evening got off to a terrible start when Chris Greenman fell awkwardly clutching his shoulder after just two minutes and was carried off.

But substitute Nathan Jukes was straight into the action and a powerful run and shot was deflected wide by the left back.

In the 10th minute City went in front when Boston failed to clear an Andy Ellis corner and Owen, lurking at the back post, lashed the ball left-footed into the roof of the net.

Boston made it all-square with a penalty after 32 minutes when Mick Brown tumbled to the ground under a challenge by Allan Davies.

Trialist Heggs stepped forward to send Paul Wyatt the wrong way.

Stant restored City's lead in the 58th minute when he latched on to a deep cross from Jukes to slide the ball past the diving keeper.

City went three up with 20 minutes to go when Stant burst down the right flank and crossed for Owen to flick the ball on to the unfortunate Mark Clifford whose flailing knee deflected the ball past his own keeper.

The visitors continued to press City and, in torrential rain, pulled a goal back on 80 minutes when the pacy Brown got past Jukes and whipped over a low ball which was poked in by Heggs from close range following a goalmouth scramble.

With five minutes to go City trialist Darren Middleton combined with Jamie Hyde to set up Owen but his glancing header span narrowly wide.

Worcester: Wyatt, Greenman (Jukes 2), Davies, Harley, Weir, Holloway, Middleton, Ellis (Spiers 82), Owen, Stant, Hyde.

A Worcester City XI visit Malvern Town tonight for a pre-season friendly at the Langland Stadium (7.30pm).