Monday, September 17, 2001

A BRILLIANT performance by Worcester City's Paul Wyatt was the highlight of a 1-1 draw with visitors Kettering Town in their Dr Martens Premier Division clash last night.

The young goalkeeper pulled off a string of superb saves in a match which saw City go a goal up just before the break through Ian Cottrill.

But Wyatt's heroics were denied the three points they deserved when Kettering rescued a draw 16 minutes from the end.

The opening 45 minutes were a scrappy affair with a succession of long punts up field and little action of note at either end of the ptich.

A last-ditch Cottrill clearance in the second minute and Brad Piercewright collapsing under a challenge from Allan Davies stirred the crowd.

But there was little colour to add to the first 44 minutes bar a yellow card for a Jon Holloway foul on ex-Wimbledon midfielder Peter Fear.

But City went a goal up on the stroke of half-time when Allan Davies swung in a deep cross that Ian Bowling in the Kettering goal failed to deal with, allowing the ball to fall to Cottrill to lash into the net.

City produced their best spell of the match after the break with Phil Stant at the heart of the action and on 51 minutes a nimble turn forced a good save from Bowling.

Three minutes later Stant turned provider after breaking down the right, but a last-ditch tackle by Wayne Duik deprived Mark Owen of his 12th goal of the season.

On 64 minutes an unsighted Wyatt tipped a Craig Norman free-kick round the post and brilliantly denied Dale Watkins on 78 minutes.

But Wyatt was powerless to prevent the goal after a superb reflex stop from Darren Collins fell kindly for Brett McNamara to level from close range.

"We are disappointed having gone in one up at half-time, we scored at the right time for us and are a bit disappointed to come away just 1-1," said City's Davies.

"I think a draw was a fair reflection on the game, but having been one up we thought we would be able to take the three points.

"Paul Wyatt was unlucky with the goal which was a great save but it just hit Carl Heeley who didn't know much about it. Anywhere else and it would have been safe, it was very unfortunate and he's also pulled off another two or three top class saves."

Worcester: Wyatt 9, Davies 6, Burrow 5, Heeley 6, Weir 7, Holloway 5, Middleton 5, Carty 6, Owen 5, Stant 7 (Shepherd 81), Cottrill 7 (Jukes 6, 67).

Attendance: 1,152.