WORCESTER City's hopes of reaching the Nationwide North play-offs are all but over following their last-gasp 1-0 defeat to fellow hopefuls Stalybridge Celtic at St George's Lane on Saturday.

City's performance was better than in last Monday's defeat at the hands of Moor Green and, had it not been for a couple of fine saves from Stalybridge goalkeeper Paul Pettinger and some desperate defending at times, they would have surely picked up at least a point.

Having said that, there were once again very few clear-cut chances created by either side, with both teams struggling to come to terms with the dry, sandy surface.

Unchanged City, who were still missing 'flu-victim Adam Webster in attack, forced the game's first corner in the opening five minutes, from which Justin Thompson twice saw his shots blocked.

In Stalybridge's first attack, Danny McDonnell denied Lee Ellington after Paul Sykes had headed on a long clearance from Pettinger.

Midway through the first-half, the visitors very nearly took the lead, with some of their supporters behind the goal at the dressing room end believing that they had. Thompson headed the ball back towards his own goal and McDonnell was forced to throw the ball back into play after almost carrying it over the line.

City hit back and Tom Warmer's pass released Mark Danks, but the prolific striker delayed his shot too long and defender Mark Haran was able to block his effort. Danks was again involved minutes later, this time collecting a ball from Adam Burley, who had his best game for City, following his recent move from Gainsborough Trinity, but again his shot was blocked, this time by Grant Black. From the resulting corner, Leon Kelly's shot hit Pettinger with the 'keeper knowing very little about it.

Seven minutes before half-time, McDonnell saved City in similar fashion, when Ellington's glancing header from a Neil Prince cross hit him before being cleared.

The home side twice came close to breaking the deadlock early in the second-half but Warmer was unable to connect with Danks' cross and then Kelly headed over from George Clegg's left-wing centre.

City were the better side at this stage and Burley broke from the half-way line before forcing a fine save out of Pettinger.

Stalybridge then had the ball in the City net, but Ellington was adjudged off-side after good work from Prince and Gary Kharas.

Pettinger twice denied livewire Danks, before player-manger Andy Preece brought himself on with 16 minutes to play alongside Kelly and Danks. He replaced Clegg, who had probably been the best of City's trio of midfield players.

Preece, who was presented with a bottle of champagne before the game by Phil Simmons from the Nationwide Building Society for being the joint manager of the month for February, was soon in the action and his 20-yard free-kick deflected off Danks straight into the grateful arms of Pettinger.

Stalybridge, however, stunned City in the final minute when they scored the winner. A long ball from Black was flicked on by substitute Phil Eastwood to Ellington who showed great composure before slotting the ball past the advancing McDonnell. More frustration for City then, but three priceless points for Stalybridge.

City: McDonnell, Warner, Burley, Smith, Thompson, Lyttle, Clegg, (Preece 74), Colley, Danks, Kelly, Warmer. Subs: Pearce, Walker, Khan, Hines.

ATTENDANCE: 742