CRAIG Wilding strengthened his case to be named supporters' player of the season with a double against Worksop.

Voting slips were handed out before the match at St George's Lane with the winner due to be announced the day before City travel to Harrogate later this month.

Wilding has already been touted as a possible recipient, along with the likes of Justin Thompson, Chris Smith and Mark Danks.

And he did his chances little harm with a second-half brace that made him City's joint top scorer this season with 19 goals.

He was quickest to react when Paul Pettinger parried Adam Webster's 61st-minute strike and, after Jon Froggatt had equalised six minutes from time, produced a delightful drive to snatch victory in the 89th-minute.

Late goals are becoming something of a habit for Wilding after salvaging draws against Stalybridge and Hyde with final-minute efforts.

Once again City, who beat Worksop 2-0 in August, found themselves in the familiar position of needing a rousing finale to avoid dropping valuable points.

Not for the first time they made hard work of despatching lowly opposition.

Worksop, although appearing competent, are flirting dangerously with relegation and were missing five first-team players.

Playing in front of their lowest gate of the campaign, City, without Smith, Thompson and George Clegg, created plenty of chances to have eased their frustrations.

Wilding rustled the side netting with a powerful strike after just three minutes and Danks fired inches wide of the upright.

Danks also had a penalty pushed away by former Stalybridge Celtic custodian Pettinger in first-half stoppage time after being felled by Tony Crane, who was booked.

Defender Kevin Dawson, brother of Tottenham Hotspurs' Michael, was also booked for pulling back Webster and only escaped red because Kevin Davies was covering.

At the other end, Luke Staton sent a spectacular volley on to the roof of the net from distance and goalkeeper Danny McDonnell held on well to Froggatt's sharp drive four minutes before the break.

Pettinger, who joined Worksop earlier this season, again came to his side's rescue three minutes after the interval, blocking well from Adam Burley after Wilding had played him in.

Andy Preece's side did, however, find a way through on 61 minutes. Webster's strike was initially beaten away by Pettinger but Wilding was on hand to drill the ball home left-footed from 12 yards.

Graham Ward almost doubled City's advantage four minutes later but Dawson cleared off the line after Danks' shot had been saved.

Staton blasted wide from long-range on 68 minutes, seconds before Shabir Khan pulled his hamstring and was replaced by the not fully fit Smith.

Worksop later levelled when McDonnell failed to hold on to Steve Robinson's shot and Froggatt, later booked, took advantage from close in.

Clegg and Troy Wood were thrown into the mix for Tom Warmer and Danks respectively and Wilding won it with 60 seconds remaining as he fired a fine strike across Pettinger after Ward had cut the ball back.

City, who have now gone 11 games unbeaten at home in 2007, have won three and drawn two of their last five, promotion form at any other stage of the season.

City: McDonnell, Ward, Burley, Hodnett, Khan (Smith 69), Lyttle, Colley, Warmer (Clegg 86), Danks (Wood 86), Wilding, Webster. Subs not used: Findlay, Preece.

Attendance: 689.