Monday, April 16, 2001

WORCESTER City gave themselves a timely boost ahead of their Dr Martens League Cup final by beating Halesowen Town 4-1 last night.

Their third successive victory set City up for Thursday's first leg of the final at home to Crawley Town.

It also revives their hopes of finishing third in the Premier Division -- they are now level on points with third-placed Weymouth, but have played a game more.

However, they made life harder than it should have been for themselves against a Yeltz side who are now doomed to relegation.

Manager John Barton said: "Having been 2-0 up we took our foot off the pedal and let them back into the game.

"But what the players have been through recently in terms of the schedule has been quite a daunting task and they have responded magnificently."

Barton was again full of praise for the efforts of his younger players, notably teenage wing-backs Jamie Hyde and Wesley Joyce and midfielder Marc Burrow, who scored the goal of the game. "They have had their opportunity and taken it at the time we needed them to, and there have been enthusiastic performances from them all."

After a quiet start City began to exert pressure on the visitors' defence with the skills of striker Mark Shepherd much in evidence.

They took a 24th minute lead when Andy Ellis' cross came straight back to him off a defender and he volleyed home from an angle.

Two minutes before the break a long free-kick from inside his own half from Joyce picked out Burrow, who timed his run to perfection to lash home a 15-yard volley.

City should really have made the game safe after that but they seemed to ease off. Halesowen capitalised to pull one back with a low shot from substitute Andrew Spencer on 73 minutes.

Had Stuart Skidmore's shot not struck the bar soon after, it could have been a different game.

But City reasserted themselves and seven minutes from time, Ellis ran onto an excellent lay-off from Shepherd and his cross was turned into his own net by former City defender Jason Burnham.

Victory was completed by another own-goal two minutes from time, when Mark Owen beat Burnham on the right and his centre saw Wayne Lloyd net with a diving header.

Worcester: McDonnell 7, Carty 6 (Lutz 78), Burrow 7, Joyce 7, Weir 7, Heeley 7, Hyde 7, Ellis 7, Owen 6, H Shepherd 8, Cottrill 7. Subs not used: Tucker, Greenman.

Attendance: 942.