City 2 Burscough 1

Wilding fired home 13 minutes from time to give City their second win in a week following the 1-0 success against Vauxhall Motors.

It was the 26-year-old striker's first goal in Blue Square North since the victory against Stalybridge Celtic on November 10, John Barton's first game in caretaker charge.

Gary Walker had earlier cancelled out Matty Parry's eighth-minute opener with a fine first-half effort as City turned in a good performance in blustery conditions.

Walker started in place of injured midfielder Emeka Nwadike and was the only change to Dryden's starting line-up as the manager kept faith with his players.

The back four, praised by Dryden in the build-up, generally restricted a Burscough side that had previously gone seven games unbeaten to few chances.

However, the visitors, who beat City 2-1 at Victoria Park in August, made the most of one such opportunity to take an early lead.

Craig Noone whipped in a cross from the left and Parry flung himself forward to head the ball past keeper Cameron Belford.

Noone was a key player whenever Burscough threatened and no fewer than three City players were cautioned for stopping him in his tracks throughout the keenly fought contest.

Referee Danny Gratton, constantly barracked by the home fans for his perceived lack of consistency and petulance, booked captain Chris Smith, Walker and Ryan Clarke for fouls on Noone and also showed yellow to Jon Munday.

The Stone official also took exception to backchat from Burscough top-scorer Ciaran Kilheeney and substitute Chris Price as he took the number of bookings to six in total.

Smith was already in the referee's notebook when Walker brought the hosts level on 31 minutes.

George Clegg's corner almost found its way over the line before the ball broke free to Walker on the edge of the penalty area and he smashed it right-footed into the top corner.

Smith headed Clegg's corner just over before half-time as Dryden's men began to dominate. They also showed a willingness to roll up their sleeves and compete, particularly in the second-half.

Striker Matt Dinsmore, who had another fine game with his pace and endeavour, continually tracked back to help out in defence, while the midfield quartet of Clegg, Walker, Troy Wood and Graham Ward also chipped in.

Chances, though, were sporadic with Clegg's dipping drive over the top from 25 yards the pick of the bunch.

By the time Munday had gone into Gratton's notebook for kicking out at Allan Smart in the 72nd-minute, the home crowd were becoming exasperated with the man in the middle.

However, they were grateful to him for letting skipper Smith's handball in the penalty area go unpunished two minutes later.

Noone split the City defence with a neat pass and Belford was out quickly to narrow the angle and block well from Kilheeney. The ball then bounced up off the City keeper and hit Smith's flailing arm, but Gratton judged it to be accidental despite vociferous protests from Burscough, during which sub Chris Price was cautioned for dissent.

It was a let-off for Worcester, and three minutes later they were again thanking Gratton, this time for playing an advantage in the build-up to Wilding's winner.

Clarke set Wilding free with a long pass but the City striker was tugged back by Farrell Kilbane as he bore down on goal. However, play was waved on and Wilding managed to shake off his marker's illegal clutches before drilling the ball under Tony McMillan.

Burscough weren't quite done, however, and made life uncomfortable for the majority of the 782-strong crowd in the closing stages.

Smart blazed glaringly wide on 88 minutes after City had failed to clear their lines and Belford was forced to gather at the feet of Chris Price.

Jamie Price, presented with his Welsh semi-pro cap before the match, later marked St David's Day as a sub for the six minutes of stoppage-time as City held out for their first back-to-back success of 2008.