AT the start of the season, many people hoped that Worcester City's final home game would turn into a day of celebration.

Events have proved otherwise for the pre-season title favourites, and there will be a lot of furrowed brows at Saturday's clash with fellow relegation battlers Dorchester Town.

A point-less Easter weekend has left City still needing a point from their last two games to ensure their Dr Martens League Premier Division safety.

Missed

When John Barton took over with a record of nine points in 14 games, City would just have been happy to stay up at all.

But despite their great improvement, they have missed several chances in recent weeks to make themselves safe, and now it all boils down to the last two games.

Rothwell Town, Atherstone United and -- barring a mathematical miracle -- Gloucester City are already down, leaving one place up for grabs.

The anxiety will increase for Barton's men if they lose on Saturday, with Dorchester six points adrift of City but with a game in hand.

The other crunch fixture on Saturday sees two more struggling sides, Havant and Waterlooville and Grantham Town, meet each other -- and a Havant victory or a draw will make City safe regardless of the result at St George's Lane.

But City have their destiny in their own hands, as it will take an unlikely combination of results for them to finish in the bottom four.

Thursday, April 27, 2000.