A DISAPPOINTING four days was rounded off for Worcester City on Monday night when the referee tripped Jon Holloway in the last minute of the Kettering Town match sending the midfielder clattering to the ground.

Howls of derision greeted the man in black as the home side were denied a last furious assault in search of a winning goal.

But when your lucks out, your lucks out and City's good fortune tanks in front of goal are running on virtually empty at the moment.

Watching John Barton prowling around the dug-out while coach Mick Tuohy bellows instructions from the sidelines, it is hard not to share their sense of frustration.

City players are currently scratching around seeking that elusive flash of inspiration in front of goal that could transform their results and turn draws into wins.

At Folkestone the match was there for the taking, but in a familiar pattern that has emerged this season Worcester's players failed to capitalise on their chances.

Mark Shepherd hit a post, headed wide from six yards and shot straight at the goalkeeper when through one-on-one, while Darren Middleton missed from six yards.

The most frustrating aspect of City's current state of play is that the Dr Martens Premier Division is their for the taking. It is crying out for a team to take it by the scruff of the neck and run away with it.

Thankfully for Worcester, who yesterday morning were just five points adrift of the leaders, no one has done so and City are still very much in the hunt and with games coming thick and fast can still turn it around. Let's not forget that City have still only lost twice this season and remain undefeated at home.

City's 1-1 draw with Kettering Town boosted goalkeeper Paul Wyatt's reputation as he made at least four excellent saves and can count himself unfortunate that a brilliant reflex stop fell to the feet of an onrushing Kettering player to equalise.

Phil Stant also produced his best match of the season and for a 20-minute spell after the break was at the centre of all City's best play.

This Saturday's match at St George's Lane against King's Lynn demands a win to keep Worcester in touch and to restore some much-needed confidence in the side.

Mark Owen was unusually subdued on Monday night, but with 98 goals he will be eager to grab a couple on his 175th appearance for the club.

This would mean he would become the ninth player in the St George's Lane club's history to score 100 goals.