IN some strange twisted logic, Harrogate Town may have done Andy Preece a timely favour by dishing out Worcester City's biggest hiding in almost two years.

Because, after the club's unpalatable run of results, changes must now be made to stop City's season disintegrating.

Had Worcester picked up a draw in Yorkshire, which they should have, the performance might have been shrugged off.

But this was a wretched defeat littered with more of the same catastrophic mistakes.

City fans that filled their car's tank on pound-a-litre petrol, to witness their side's defence commit football suicide yet again, had every right to storm out of Wetherby Road before full-time.

And many of the 40 or 50 supporters that travelled the long distance did just that.

It not only stunned fans but the management team too. Preece pulled no punches with his post-match comments, while assistant Andy Morrison looked shocked.

For 'Jock', shipping four goals on Saturday and eight in Worcester's last three Nationwide North must hurt like a knife to the heart. The former Premier Lea-gue defender takes pride in clean sheets, resilient units and playing the percentages.

Shocking penalty box clearances and gifting free headers from close range do not figure in his coaching manual.

What made the weekend body-blow more galling is that Worcester's executioners are hardly among the top band of clubs.

Sure, Harrogate please the eye and string good attractive moves without smashing the long ball. But they are not Northwich Victoria, Nuneaton Borough or Droylsden, sides endowed to power their way to promotion spots.

Victory was handed to Town on a plate and, for everybody associated at St George's Lane, this cannot be allowed to continue.

Of course, the panic button does not need pressing yet. It is the first week of September after all and only six games have passed. But the Harrogate humbling must surely be treated as a defining moment for Preece, a time to say enough is enough and try something new.

The obvious call is to ditch the current playing system and start with an orthodox four at the back.

Whether a change in formation will serve City any better is unclear, but it is worth a punt to switch from 5-3-2 and provide an extra body in midfield.

A change in personnel is also vital. Too many players are failing to justify their position in the side, not just in defence but in midfield and attack.

It is all the more frustrating because the same players took Worcester from the jaws of relegation last season to seventh in the league table.

However, is there adequate talent waiting in the wings? If not, Preece may be forced to cull parts of his squad to bring in new blood. He warned on Saturday that his players need to 'pull their fingers out' if they want to be part of his plans for next year.

Defender Barry Woolley wanted a switch to Hinckley United and got his wish -- more could follow shortly.