Monday, January 7, 2006

SOLID Worcester City took the pressure of any relegation fears by clinching their first league win in almost two months.

Taking into account the improving form of Leigh RMI and tomorrow night's opponents Vauxhall Motors, City urgently required three points to steer clear of the small pack of clubs merging at the wrong end of the Nationwide North table.

And they did so comfortably, brushing aside off-key Kettering Town at St George's Lane, although Worcester were granted a helpful dollop of luck on their way.

After two excellent displays against leaders Stafford, City were probably owed a slice of fortune and it headed their way on 72 minutes when Poppies midfielder Hugh McAuley steered into his own net.

Then after two marvellous and important late stops from Danny McDonnell - who was practically redundant for 80 minutes of the contest - striker Leon Kelly sowed up victory with an acute finish.

Last season, this fixture served up a memorable 2-2 thriller, a wide open ebb-and-flow game with wonderful attacking play throughout and shots galore.

This was quite the opposite, especially in the first-half when both sides were embroiled in a midfield scrum, with little goalmouth action.

It was very disappointing, but City showed greater adventure than the Poppies, who are struggling to find their feet following the Paul Gascoigne come-and-gone episode.

And after the break, it was obvious that Worcester wanted three points more than their visitors, with greater urgency and purpose in their play.

"It seems a long time since we won three points," said City captain Des Lyttle. "I couldn't tell you the last time we won a league game! But it was a good performance against a decent side.

"Obviously, Hugh scored the own-goal and that spurred us on to get the second goal. But we've not been getting much luck this season, so we'll take any that comes our way.

"Leon has been working hard over the last couple of games and he deserved his reward."

A lacklustre first half-hour saw just a single worthwhile attempt, Adam Webster spinning inside the Poppies penalty box on seven minutes before aiming low at 'keeper Mark Osborn.

From a rare Kettering sortie, Derek Brown headed Andy Hall's right-wing cross against the upright, but the visiting skipper was already adjudged to have pushed Danny Hodnett.

At the other end, agile Osborn made successive one-handed saves, first tipping over Justin Thompson's back post header, then deflecting wide Rob Warner's 30-yard stinger.

Kelly was guilty of wasting a glorious chance before the interval in a counter attack where City had four men on two.

The powerhouse strike burst down the left channel and lost possession under pressure from Wayne Diuk, but Kelly had George Clegg and Sam Wedgbury screaming for a square pass through the middle.

Worcester old-boy Christian Moore made no impact whatsoever and was substituted to jeers on 68 minutes, while Nick Colley and Troy Wood were brought on for City.

Colley's pace forced a corner from which Worcester opened the scoring. Warner's corner aimed for Thompson, but McAuley diverted the ball past Osborn into the net.

Kettering came back with two fine chances in the last 10 minutes, but they could not beat marvellous McDonnell.

He first saved dangerman Hall's low drive from the left. Two minutes later, Brett Solkhon was freed inside the Worcester box and his right foot effort struck the inside of McDonnell's thigh and away for a corner.

With four minutes left, Kelly wrapped up the points, latching on to Warner's high punt before racing in on goal and flicking the ball sweetly into the bottom corner.

CITY: McDonnell, Warner, Hines, Hodnett, Thompson, Lyttle, Warmer (Wood 68), Wedgbury (Colley 68), Kelly, Webster, Clegg. Subs not used: Preece, Hyde, Khan.

ATTENDANCE: 867