IT is no exaggeration that Worcester City's 2006 form has a worried bunch of clubs peering over their shoulders.

Stalybridge, Droylsden, Hyde and Harrogate. Those fancied four can boast more points or an extra game or two.

But as the race for Nationwide North play-off places hots up with less than a third of the season remaining, City, on recent results, must be the outsiders to fear.

Few could have thought it possible on New Year's Eve, when Andy Preece's side received the thumping of all thumpings at Hyde United. That 4-0 thrashing signalled a potential fight for survival.

The turnaround is remarkable and this latest three-point salvo at Watnall Road confirms that Worcester have the strength of mind to claim a play-off spot.

In difficult, gusty conditions, allowing for limited attractive football, City rolled up their sleeves and won a tight battle.

That has not always happened -- losses at Alfreton and Vauxhall cases in point -- so edging out a decent Hucknall side proves City can out-play opponents and out-scrap too.

Sparky striker Mark Danks, back from a one-match ban, emphasised his goal-scoring pedigree again by slamming Worcester in front.

Danks had another strike disallowed for off-side before Town's Greg Pearson levelled with a soft over-head kick, the first goal conceded by Danny McDonnell in 457 minutes.

But City re-established their advantage through Leon Kelly's header.

"It was a great win," said player-boss Preece. "It was also a horrible game with not much football on view.

"It was a tough battle and Hucknall do not lose that many games. That's a great result.

"You probably get about a dozen of these all season, where you must dig in and grind out a result. In other games, we've probably been guilty of not being able to do that.

"I felt we should have been 2-0 up. Danksy was not off-side and the game should have been over. It was a blatant foul by Leon for his header, so maybe that evened it up."

Kelly kept his starting place as Adam Webster sat sidelined with a groin injury. The powerhouse forward caused untold trouble for Hucknall and linked up well alongside Danks.

But the former Forest Green Rovers man stole the limelight first, firing Worcester into a 10th-minute lead.

From Rob Warner's corner, Tom Warmer's 25-yard scuffed shot ricocheted to Danks six yards out.

There was still work to do and, in true goal-poacher style, Danks turned sharply and tucked the ball left-footed past Hucknall 'keeper James Lindley.

A seemingly wrong call for off-side denied Danks a second. Justin Thompson found room for a low drive that Lindley superbly parried straight to the livewire striker.

Danks pounced to score and celebrate, only for the linesman to raise his flag -- although he raced in from an on-side position.

Despite the disappointment, City's rock-steady defence seemed comfortable enough to hold the slender lead, typical of recent displays that helped reel off four successive clean sheets.

Mark Ward slashed a wayward effort wide and a fantastic Chris Smith block thwarted Lee Morris.

Out of nowhere, however, Hucknall caught Worcester cold. A high cross looked harmless enough, but Ward connected at the back post and an unmarked Pearson volleyed in from over his shoulder.

Almost in slow-motion, the ball trickled into the far corner as flat-footed McDonnell tried in vain to clear.

It was a poor time to concede, but City stormed back ahead 10 minutes after the interval. Great work down the left freed Danks and his excellent by-line cross reached the far post.

Kelly climbed over Nathan Winder's shoulders, deemed fair by referee Jim Hubbard, and dispatched an accurate header into the corner.

Lindley's excellent one-handed save prevented Smith two minutes later and, in a late Town flurry, McDonnell beat away sub Robert Gill's effort and Lee Colkin side-footed wide.

CITY: McDonnell, Warner, Khan, Smith, Thompson, Lyttle, Clegg, Colley, Kelly, Danks, Warmer (Wood 80). Subs not used: Preece, Stanley, G Walker, Hines.

ATTENDANCE: 360.