Saturday, March 10, 2001

WORCESTER City will soon have to start fielding Ian Cottrill in goal on a regular basis if he can continue his unblemished record.

For the second time this season, the long-serving Cottrill had to don the green jersey in Saturday's game at Folkestone Invicta after Danny McDonnell had been shown the red card with only 24 minutes played.

But, as on the opening day of the season at Tamworth, City again came out with a 2-1 win, with Cottrill playing an key role in keeping City fourth in the Dr Martens League Premier Division.

He made several notable saves, with his his best in the dying seconds when he superbly parried Andy Larkin's close-range header and defender Chris Greenman made a vital block from Paul Chambers' follow-up.

Midfielder Andy Ellis said afterwards: "To be honest Ian is not a bad 'keeper. If the situation arises he will do all right, which he showed today. While Danny being sent off was a loss, it wasn't a catastrophe."

Ellis criticised the sending-off, saying: "The linesman said to the referee that it was accidental, but if that was the case, how could he have been sent off?"

"We started quite well and played some good football. The sending-off didn't help but we still believed we could win it, even with 10 men.

"It was crucial when we scored the second goal, just after they had equalised. It gave us something to hold on to."

City largely dominated on a very heavy pitch at Cheriton Road, even after the sending-off, with Ellis masterminding affairs in midfield, as they made it eight games without defeat.

Mark Owen hit the post early on before McDonnell raced out of his goal as Nicky Dent raced through despite offside app-eals, but slid out of his area on the slippy surface as he blocked with his hands.

McDonnell protested that he'd already released the ball before going out of the area but the assistant referee was unmoved and the City 'keeper had to go despite his protests.

Cottrill switched from defence to take over from the crestfallen McDonnell, but he was generally kept well protected as City continued their forward momentum.

They finally struck four minutes into first-half stoppage time when Steve Lutz, who showed bags of industry in midfield, played the ball forward, it flicked off a defender's head and Owen ran on to slot in his 26th goal of the season.

Lowly Folkestone started the second-half well and Cottrill did well to tip Mike Everitt's fierce shot over the bar. But from the resulting corner, he was beaten by James Dryden's close-range header.

But within two minutes City scored what proved to be the winner. Newcomer Mark Shepherd began the move on the right by feeding Ellis, whose cross was nodded on by Andy Bradley for skipper Carl Heeley to power a header in off the underside of the bar.

City could have made the scoreline more emphatic and although Folkestone put on pressure in the closing minutes, Cottrill stood firm.