MARK Danks struck eight minutes from time to earn Worcester City a deserved point in a 1-1 draw at Kettering Town today.

Danks, playing against his former employers, pounced from close range to cancel out Jean-Paul Marna's first-half strike after Chris Smith had headed substitute Chris Cornes' corner back across goal.

City were the better side, particularly in the second-half, in a less than enthralling Nationwide North contest played out in front of 1,597 spectators - the largest gate of the season at Rockingham Road.

Andy Preece's side, who had Danks, Graham Ward, Adam Burley and Tom Warmer booked, created several opportunities after the break whereas Kettering, who have been a full-time club since the start of the season, failed to test Danny McDonnell once in the second 45 minutes.

City may even have been celebrating three points to kick-off their festive programme had they not presented a belated Christmas gift to the hosts on the stroke of half-time. In a moment that the Worcester defence will want to forget, Burley lost the ball on the edge of the penalty area and Craig Westcarr sent a cross in.

The ball was allowed to bounce around the penalty spot but the visiting defenders failed to clear with no Kettering player threatening and Marna eventually arrived to sweep the ball low to McDonnell's left.

Preece must have given his players a rocket at the interval because they came out with a sense of purpose and took the game to a poor Kettering side.

Danks had an effort palmed wide by Mark Osborn on 53 minutes before Smith and Justin Thompson, twice, headed over the top when well placed. Des Lyttle was also unfortunate not to connect better with a George Clegg free-kick.

However, the visitors got their reward on 82 minutes. Cornes, who replaced Clegg on 73 minutes, floated a corner in, Smith headed it back into the six-yard box and Danks turned the ball past Osborn to the delight of the City bench.

Earlier, a lacklustre first-half produced precious few moments of note with both sides struggling to keep the ball and giving the large Boxing Day crowd little to cheer.

The hosts, who had Andre Boucaud and goalscorer Marna cautioned, had the best chance when Smith was in the right place at the right time to clear former Tottenham midfielder Darren Caskey's shot off the line with 34 minutes gone.

Goal hero Danks had Worcester's best chance before the break, having an effort deflected over the top following Craig Wilding's cross after 37 minutes.

City: McDonnell, Ward, Burley, Smith, Thompson, Lyttle, Warmer, Colley, Danks (Webster 87), Wilding (Traore 90), Clegg (Cornes 73). Subs not used: Wedgbury, Hodnett.

Attendance: 1,597.