MARK Danks' first-half penalty was enough to give Worcester City a much-needed victory in an uninspiring game at Hilton Park.

Danks beat keeper Tim Ditmer from 12 yards after Nick Colley had been pushed in the back 21 minutes into a contest played in front of just 154 spectators at the 10,000-capacity rugby league venue.

Although a strong wind was a major factor in dictating play, favouring first City and then Leigh after the break, this was a match between two struggling sides already certain of their fates.

Leigh RMI will be playing Unibond Premier football next season following their confirmed relegation last week, while City have been treading mid-table water for some time.

Both teams lacked the spark to ignite proceedings on a chilly day more befitting December than spring and indeed Danks' spot-kick was the only serious shot on target.

With Worcester manager Richard Dryden desperately looking for positives in a disappointing end to the campaign, he will just be glad to have picked up three Blue Square North points for the first time since March 1.

He will also have been buoyed to see George Clegg play the last 25 minutes as a substitute, the midfielder making a welcome return to action following his Achilles injury.

City, though, were forced into a late change when Matt Dinsmore suffered a groin strain in the warm-up and Troy Wood was handed an unexpected start in the hole behind Danks and Craig Wilding.

Yet, even with Danks' penalty, the first-half was a bit of a non-event.

Leigh, with the elements against them, had good passages of possession but their main attacking threat of Gavin Salmon, supported by Cayne Hanley, was comfortably snuffed out by a solid Chris Smith and Jon Munday.

Skipper Rob Marsh-Evans pulled a shot wide on 16 minutes for the hosts' first chance of the game before City took the lead out of the blue five minutes later.

Colley was pushed in the back and referee Mr Whiteley instantly pointed to the spot with little protest from the Leigh players. Danks, who had earlier completely missed his kick from Colley's cross, made no mistake from the spot, beating Ditmer to his right.

However, the goal did little to quicken the pulse. The visiting fans tried their best to inspire proceedings with vociferous chanting but all they got was a warning from stewards after a complaint about the noise level of their drum echoing around the empty stands.

Chris Sanna, making his league debut in the wake of Cameron Belford's departure, was a virtual spectator but was briefly given a chance to get the blood pumping with a charging run to clear at Salmon's feet on 35 minutes.

In time added on Wilding side-footed over the bar into an empty terrace after Smith had managed to keep Jamie Price's corner in play.

The wayward finishing continued after the break as Wood missed his kick 12 yards out after playing a one-two with Danks. Wilding also held off the clutches of his marker before firing well wide of Ditmer's goal.

Leigh, who had used all three substitutes by the 65th-minute mark, forced two corners in succession as they began to use the wind to their advantage.

At the same time Clegg came on for Danks and took Price's place in midfield as the Welshman moved to left-back after the injured Shabir Khan had been replaced by striker Rory May.

Chances, however, continued to be sparse. Captain Smith headed tamely at Ditmer and May blazed an effort out of the ground following a good run.

Leigh, still trying to play neat football, had a couple of penalty appeals turned down but gradually Steve Bleasdale's side, and the game, fizzled out.