LIGHTNING does strike twice! Just ask Saturday's visitors to St George's Lane who, for the second successive season, threw away a two-goal lead.

And, had two-goal hero Emeka Nwadike's 90th-minute strike not been ruled out for offside, then the journey home back to Cumbria would have been even longer.

There appeared no way back for Richard Dryden's side that had produced some slick passing play but no end product. And, as the game wore on, City's lack of a cutting edge saw their passing become sloppy and aimless.

And, when Jamie Price's free-kick from 50 yards in the 74th-minute sailed harmlessly over the crossbar it just about summed up the home side's afternoon but, the dead-ball specialist's next one four minutes later was better directed and forced Adam Collin to spill the ball.

Matt Dinsmore reacted to the loose ball only to see his scuffed shot strike a post but Nwadike was on hand to prod the ball over the line.

The home side survived a couple of scares at the other end before the match was all-square with four minutes left on the clock.

Jonny Harkness provided the left wing cross, teenager Dinsmore headed the ball into the six-yard box where the predatory Nwadike appeared the get the last touch - confirmed as he was engulfed by his joyous team-mates.

Graham Ward then cut in from the right only to see his drive diverted over the bar by a visiting head and, just as the board showing four minutes injury-time was displayed, Nwadike found the net again from Dinsmore's cross only for celebrations to be cut short by an offside flag.

City still sensed a winner and Price again showed his creativity with a run and cross that reached Dinsmore who saw his shot blocked by the legs of a relieved Collin.

The visiting keeper had enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon in the persistent drizzle that got heavier as the game wore on while opposite number Cameron Belford was similarly protected by his defenders despite an 11th-minute mix-up that gifted the Reds the lead. An innocuous looking through ball led to a lack of communication between Belford and Ryan Clarke allowing Jonny Wright in to open the scoring.

Clarke almost atoned his error three minutes later but his close-range shot was blocked, while Belford was relieved to see the impressive Matthew Berkeley's drive flash past a post.

George Clegg's 31st-minute shot was deflected for a corner, while Jon Munday lost his footing just as he was about to shoot after Adam Webster had nodded down another Price free-kick.

Webster, who had earlier received treatment after taking a blow to the ankle, then expertly volleyed Clegg's 37th minute cross past Collin only to be adjudged offside before turning Price's cross over the bar from six yards.

The striker didn't appear after the restart, joining Mark Danks and Troy Wood on the injury list. And, with Craig Wilding serving a one-match ban, Clegg was pushed up front alongside Blue Square North debutant Dinsmore with substitute Gary Walker taking up a midfield role.

Nick Colley saw an early volley blocked and Dinsmore's overhead flew wide but the day's second goal came at the opposite end when Belford was left flat-footed when Graham Anthony tried his luck from 25 yards and the ball landed in the top corner of the home net.

Rapinder Gill came on for Colley after 68 minutes but it was Clarke who led City's attacking charge with some marauding runs from the back.

The home side's commitment was finally rewarded by Nwadike who, until he popped up to halve the arrears, had had a quiet match.

There was nothing quiet about the home fans in the closing stages as Worcester chased a winner after the skipper's second and only an assistant referee's intervention and the goalkeeper's legs denied Richard Dryden's side victory.