Saturday, October 20, 2001

FOOTBALL is a fickle mistress and a week after snaring Mark Owen with a broken leg the beautiful game bit back to reward Phil Stant with a hat-trick in Worcester City's 4-2 victory over Tiverton Town in the Dr Martens Premier Division.

City made a sensational start when Owen's replacement up front, Darren Middleton, latched onto a Stant flick and curled a ball round the advancing Paul Edwards in the visitors' goal to give the home side the lead with just 29 seconds on the clock.

But Worcester failed to build on their early lead and a dull first half-hour saw few moments to cheer for the St George's Lane faithful apart from a typically robust challenge from new signing Darren Bullock.

The home crowd were further subdued in the 29th minute when Tivvy struck a superb equaliser.

Kevin Nancekivell left three City players for dead to pick out Dave Leonard with a pin-point cross and his header gave Paul Wyatt no chance.

The goal roused Worcester and in the 38th minute Stant restored the lead with a clinical volley from a Jon Holloway cross.

Two minutes later Stant punished Tivvy again with a diving header from an Andy Ellis free kick after Allan Davies had been rashly fouled on the edge of the box to send City into the break 3-1 up.

Within 21 seconds of the restart Tiverton had pulled a goal back when skipper Carl Heeley brought down Phil Everett for Nancekivell to score from the spot.

However, the visitors' hopes of rescuing a point were dented in the 78th minute when goalscorer Leonard, already booked, was shown a straight red card by referee Russell Green for swearing.

With five minutes to play Stant finally killed off any hopes of a Tiverton comeback with a brilliantly executed scissors kick from a Middleton cross after a good break by substitute Dwain McFarlane and Davies.

After the match a delighted Bullock revealed he was pleased to just get through the 90 minutes.

"I'm not match-fit and have not played for seven weeks so I was pretty pleased to get through 90 minutes," he said.

"After about 20 minutes I picked up a little hamstring pull and was struggling a bit, but I got through the game and I think the adrenaline got me through but I enjoyed it.

"Obviously I think you'll see a better me when I'm fully fit.

"It was a scrappy affair and at the end of the day we have to be more professional. We were 3-1 up and gave away a stupid goal and it was backs against the wall.

"But we dug in and Stanty's come up with the goods again."

Bullock admitted it took time adjusting to the pace of the lower league but was pleased to be back.

"It's a lot, lot quicker to be honest and you don't get too much time on the ball, but the standard of football in this league is not too bad actually.

"The lads have made me feel welcome but everybody knows me and I used to come down when I could even when I was in the pro game.

"I love the place and hopefully I can bring something to it and get us back in the Conference."

Hat-trick hero Stant was pleased with the three points but added Owen was still very much in their thoughts.

"We didn't play well but we got the result," he said.

"The hallmark of a good side is not playing well and picking up points and there's a long way to go but we are handily placed.

"We've drawn too many games and we haven't played well so there is a lot more to come from this side.

"The result was the main thing. Our main concern was Mark from last week and the main thing is he comes back because we miss players like him."