MANAGER John Barton is urging his Worcester City players to show that Saturday's win was not a flash in the pan ahead of their Dr Martens Premier Division clash at Tiverton Town tonight (7.45).

The St George's Lane club recorded a superb 3-1 victory at Welling United with a Mark Shepherd hat-trick but Barton is calling on his team to make it two away victories on the trot and send the club into the festive period on a high.

But City's bad luck with injuries has struck again with midfielder Darren Bullock ruled out after picking up a knock at Welling.

Battling

Full-back Allan Davies is rated 50-50 with a hamstring strain while veteran striker Phil Stant, who scored a hat-trick in City's 4-2 win against Tiverton at St George's Lane in October, is battling to be fit after missing the last two matches due to an Achilles injury.

Tiverton, undefeated in five league games, are in confident mood after a 3-0 win at Folkestone Invicta on Saturday and are three points behind City with a game in hand.

Their main dangerman could be Kevin Nancekivell, who has scored five goals in December.

Barton was pleased with his side's display at Welling but admitted the real test was whether they could put back-to-back wins together. "We were pleased with Saturday's victory but as regards the bigger picture I'm still not convinced and you have to say it is only one win," he said.

"There are still too many scars from this season already and the real test is whether we can actually go on and make back to back wins."

Assistant boss Mick Tuohy said the relief at Saturday's win had been tempered by the sudden death of Worcester referee Gerald Ashby.

"He had great connections with the club and we are all deeply saddened by his loss," said Tuohy.

"Saturday's win took a lot of pressure off us but we need to go and repeat that performance tonight.

"We can then go into the Christmas period and plan for the rest of the season because this league changes very quickly and we've still got a lot of the bottom half clubs to play."

Worcester (from): McDonnell, Wyatt, Davies, Jukes, Heeley, Blount, Weir, Holloway, Shepherd, Stant, Hadley, McFarlane, Jackson, Carty, Burrow, Hyde.

Formcast: City to draw 2-2.