IT'S been a long hard winter to date but even with plummeting temperatures wiping out recent games it's hard not to spot the warm glow coming from St Geo-rge's Lane at the moment.

This is largely thanks to three wins out of four but a lot of credit must go to Worcester City's boss John Barton, who has, weathered a run of poor form to re-ignite their campaign.

Barton has steadfastly maintained that it would take time to shape his team and bring it up the desired standard but the signs are that this is happening.

Injuries have perhaps forced his hand to an extent but prospects are looking a lot brighter for the St Geo-rge's Lane club and there is some real quality at the club at present.

As Barton said if any of his lot were up for transfer his phone would be red hot with interest from other clubs.

Of course his ability to bring in signings of the calibre of Leon Jackson and Adam Webster was achieved by an injury hit squad with their FA Cup successes which ended in brave defeat against Rushden & Diamonds.

Football according to pundits is all about timing and I just wonder whether City's fortunes have changed and if lady luck is now smiling on Worcester.

If Stewart Hadley's 95th minute winner ag-ainst Weymouth is anything to go by then perhaps their luck has already started to change and whose to say they don't deserve it.

As the New Year dawns Barton is set to have some familiar faces back in contention for a place including Chris Greenman, Ian Cottrill, Andy Ellis and Darren Middleton.

Middleton's absence, especially after Mark Owen's injury, was a real blow and it will be interesting to see his silky skills and pace integrated into the current City line up.

The postponements of the Hinckley United and Hednesford Town's mat-ches have worked in Middleton's favour, and if Stafford Rangers match later today also falls victim to the weather, they will be a bonus matches for him to play in which, one would suspect, would suit both him and City.