JUST where were all Worcester City's supporters on Saturday? Christmas shopping? At Worcester Warriors?

That can be the only conclusion to City's dismal attendance of 806 -- their third lowest league gate of the season.

It was an embarrassing turn-out at St George's Lane and not what Worcester's players and management deserved following the club's glorious FA Cup run.

In the build-up to Saturday's Worksop game, manager Andy Preece appealed for a sizeable crowd, encouraging those who feasted on City's cup achievements to show their appreciation before kick-off.

Preece was not expecting or asking a great deal. Nobody expected hundreds of fringe fans -- especially those who treated big occasions against Chippenham and Huddersfield as one-off excursions to the Lane -- to arrive for a run-of-the-mill fixture.

But Preece and the die-hard fans would have anticipated much more than 806 -- a crowd that included a decent following from Worksop.

Over the past month, Preece and chairman Dave Boddy have opened their hearts on the attendance issue, demanding gates over 1,000 in the wake of Worcester's cup exploits.

After defeat to Huddersfield, in front of 4,163, Boddy remarked: "Our average league attendances are around 900. We've got to knock that above 1,000 on a regular basis.

"It's important after all the big games we've had recently -- in which we've put decent shows on -- that these people actually come back."

Preece added: "We should be getting over 1,000 every week for a club of this size. I think people look at results, see our league position and think we're not doing well."

Preece must be tired of repeatedly calling on City's fringe support to make home league games. But perhaps he made a rod for his own back through City's poor start to the season.

There is nothing like a flying start to the league campaign -- as Nuneaton and Stafford accomplished -- to invigorate local support.

City suffered a terrible opening to Nationwide North and still languish fourth from bottom, which is most to blame for the less-than-impressive attendances. A quick glance at the league table and people assume Worcester are not up to much.

For the season's remainder, only league fixtures against Kettering and county rivals Redditch United look likely to top 1,000.

Unless City march up the table in similar fashion to last year, there looks to be no hope of similar attendances against the likes of Alfreton, Leigh and Vauxhall Motors.