WORCESTER City manager John Barton is playing down talk of a late title charge despite his side's impressive run of five victories in six matches.

The St George's Lane club made it four consecutive wins with a 3-0 victory at Hednesford, including a goal from new signing Adam Webster.

City were given a further boost when leaders Crawley lost 4-2 at home to Welling United.

Barton's men have now struck 15 goals in their four-match run and their form has put them just outside the top six, still 13 points adrift of Crawley, but with two games in hand.

However, lurking in fourth place are Kettering, who have four games in hand of Crawley and are six points ahead of City.

Barton is keen to dampen any expectation despite his team's up-turn in form and he has dismissed speculation about a late charge for the championship.

"As I've stated before the club has foundered too many times on expectation that cannot be met," he said.

"Call me a pessimist -- although I would sooner call myself a realist --but that's as I see the situation.

"The club has been caught in that position before and I saw that as one of the roles when I first came to the club and it will stay that way as long as I'm here.

"We don't want to dampen optimism and don't want to be negative about it -- we just want to go about our work in a quiet methodical way and things will progress from there."

Barton was pleased with his side's display against The Pitmen and had praise for some of the lower profile players in his squad including Nathan Jukes who partnered Darren Bullock in midfield.

"He's looked a lot more confident in his play and he's had a good two or three weeks in terms of performances and I'm pleased with him," he said.

"Marc Burrow has also come in and done an efficient job and I thought it was Allan Davies' best game for the club by far."