A NEW mini-season begins for Worcester City tomorrow - says manager John Barton.

With no other distractions for them following the surrender of their Dr Martens Cup crown at Bedworth in midweek, City have to target gaining as many points as possible from their remaining 23 games in the Dr Martens League Premier Division.

That sequence of games begins at Welling United tomorrow (3pm) and Barton said: "Our season unfortunately now rolls down to 23 league games, which starts from now.

"There are 69 points to play for and we need to get as many of them as we possibly can."

Tomorrow's game presents an opportunity for City to get back on track and ease any lingering relegation worries, as Welling are four points and six places behind them in 17th.

The London side have struggled this season after finishing fourth last term, although they have several dangerous players including experienced striker Gary Abbott and tricky midfielder Anthony Riviere.

A 4-4 draw at Merthyr Tydfil last week proved that they are capable of both scoring and conceding goals.

But Barton said he was more concerned with improving City's performances than worrying about the opposition.

He said: "It is about us. Our recent performances both individually and collectively have been disappointing, and the players now have something to prove."

One Veteran striker Phil Stant will miss the game having failed to shake off an Achilles problem that ruled him out of the Bedworth defeat.

But midfielder Jon Holloway returns after work commitments sidelined him in midweek, while Barton is hopeful that defender Martin Weir, who was unable to train last night because of a back strain, will be fit.

City have only won once away from home in the league this season, a 2-1 success at Ilkeston Town back in August.

But history is on their side tomorrow - they've taken all the points on both their previous visits to Park View Road, including a 1-0 success last season when Marc Burrow scored a late goal.

City have another league game at Tiverton Town next Wednesday.

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

FORMCAST: No reward for City as they go down 1-0.

Meanwhile, City reached the quarter-finals of the Midland Floodlit Youth League cup when they beat Cheltenham Town 3-1 at Evesham United's Common Road ground last night.

Jon Warman (2) and Matthew Stock scored City's goals.

It was their second win of the week, having beaten Gloucester City 2-1 in the league on Monday.