DRAMATIC it may be but Worcester City's season is at a make-or-break stage with four momentous games in waiting.

After frittering away two more points at Moor Green, you wonder how much longer City can go on like this before the hope of promotion vanishes.

How many more leads can they surrender? How many more defensive mix-ups can they afford? How many more opportunities will be missed?

Manager Andy Preece and chairman Dave Boddy targeted the play-offs in pre-season.

But the window of opportunity is closing at a rapid pace each week and will soon slam shut. And, yes, the domestic cricket season is yet to finish.

Worcester are third from bottom in Nationwide North with six points from eight matches.

Just Vauxhall Motors, the league's most poorly supported club, and promoted Workington, who were battered into submission by City last month, are worse off.

Even Redditch fans can gloat over their county cousins after leapfrogging City with a 4-1 rout of Droylsden.

When Preece stepped into the breach back in February, he quickly galvanised City from the relegation edges.

Performing miracles with assistant Andy Morrison, he grabbed a side totally shot of confidence by the scruff of the neck and took them to within an ace of the play-offs.

The pressure is on Preece to repeat the trick. But the more City struggle for points, the greater the chance erodes. Only so big a mountain can be climbed.

With a crucial period ahead, Worcester must turn the corner now - before it is too late.

A handy confidence booster will arrive by overcoming Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round on Saturday.

If Bemerton mastermind a shock triumph at St George's Lane, it would rank as one of the greatest embarrassments in the club's history.

Gifting Christian Moore a double on the opening day hurt. So did the poor 4-1 defeat at Harrogate Town. Losing to the unknown Wessex Division One side would hurt like nothing before.

It should be comfortable enough for City, though, and Les Hines and Nick Colley should be fit from injury to help lead the way.

Several league games follow, beginning with a trip to Lancaster followed by a mammoth home double-header against Northwich Victoria and Nuneaton Borough in the space of three days.

Worcester have not registered a night league win at the Lane for over 12 months. They need to change all that against Borough on October 17.

Preece's troops must strive for at least five points from that difficult lot.

If not, reaching the play-offs will be a task too far.

Injuries are not helping Worcester's cause, but a superb first-half performance at Damson Park suggests there is quality in the squad when times are hard.

Defender Danny Hodnett was steady in his full competitive debut, while Shabir Khan and Liam McDonald combined beautifully down the left flank.

McDonald was the star turn along with captain Graham Hyde and the former academy graduate will hope to make the left-wing berth his own after causing untold havoc in opposition territory.

Khan was withdrawn before half-time with a suspected dead leg and that is concerning.

It is not the first time the 19-year-old defender has broken down during a game.