Monday, April 1, 2002

THE end of the season cannot come quickly enough for Worcester City it seems after yet another lacklustre display which saw them slump to a 2-1 defeat to Stafford Rangers last night.

Despite a bright opening 15 minutes and a flurry of pressure after Nathan Jukes' equaliser in the 69th minute City ultimately paid the penalty for defensive mistakes and an inability to retain enough possession.

The winning goal invoked dual claims for offside and a foul on Marc Burrow but on balance the victory went to the better side on the night.

Paul Kiely opened the scoring in the 17th minute with an easy close range shot when the luckless Burrow contrived to miss a straightforward Scott Dundas cross.

Though Burrow had the blushes it was Darren Middleton who dwelt on the ball too long that allowed Boro to break.

City created few chances of note in the first half with the composed Ian Cottrill nearly converting a Jukes corner and a Paul Carty piledriver inches wide but that apart there was precious little to excite the 1,000 plus strong crowd at St George's Lane.

The second half began with a surge of play by City but again it lacked any real conviction bar the excellent Carty whose trickery forced Ryan Price to tip a well struck shot for a corner.

The equaliser finally arrived, engineered by Carty, whose delightful chip found Jukes who volleyed home.

Boosted by the goal City rallied and two minutes later Jukes sent Price sprawling to his left to pluck out a fiercely struck free kick but Rangers held firm before snatching an 85th minute winner.

Carl Heeley's clearance was charged down by Stuart Ryder to allow substitute Antony Eccelston to coolly lob home.

Afterwards Heeley felt City had been denied a well-earned draw.

"In the second half we played reasonably well and deserved a draw at least," he said.

"To say the winning goal was controversial is a bit of an understatement. Whether or not it was offside, which I felt it was, it was irrelevant because Marc Burrow was surely fouled.

"On Saturday we played badly but tonight I didn't think that was the case - I think we were robbed of a point.

"However it's done and dusted now and we have to bounce back on Saturday. These things happen - some decisions go for you and some against and we and we just have to get on with it."

Attendance: 1,017.

Worcester: McDonnell 7, Davies 6, Carty 9, Heeley 6, Burrow 5, Holloway 6, Jukes 7, Middleton 6 (Poston 61, 6), Webster 6, Hadley 7, Cottrill 7. Subs not used: Shepherd, Wyatt.