GRAHAM Ward is hoping Worcester City’s capitulation against Hayes and Yeading United is a one-off.

In the wake of the Marco Adaggio-inspired victories over Bognor Regis and St Albans, there was a real buzz around St George’s Lane.

For the first time in a long while, there was a genuine sense of optimism among supporters following the dismal end to the last campaign.

However, Saturday’s 3-0 surrender has brought everyone connected with the club crashing back down to earth with a hefty bump.

Indeed, Richard Dryden’s team were booed off after what the manager later described as one of the worst performances of his Worcester reign.

Talk about one extreme to the other — the fans were practically dancing on the terraces after watching their team take six points from the first two games.

Right-back Ward was also at a loss to explain how City had gone from showing such promise to rolling over so tamely against a Middlesex outfit that had shipped five goals in their opening two fixtures.

The Irishman, though, is expecting City to bounce back when they visit Weston-Super-Mare, thrashed 4-1 at Hampton and Richmond at the weekend, on Saturday.

He said: “We were awful from start to finish. I really can’t explain it because after the first couple of games we were flying. If you look at the first two games, everyone could see that we have a lot of pace in the team.

“I think everyone is going to put it down to a bad day at the office — I hope it was because we were awful.

“They scored early and we couldn’t get going. The goal killed us.

“Everybody was confident around the place and even in the team-talk everyone was saying we looked good and sharp in front of goal and were making a lot of chances. As soon as the game started, we ran out of ideas.

“In Blue Square South, you have to start right and if you don’t it gives the opponents the impetus. We were second best all over the pitch.

“We have a game against Weston and we have to put it right if we can.

“The gaffer has asked us to put it to the back of our minds and get ready for Saturday.”

But the 25-year-old right-back admitted: “I would have taken six points from the first nine available. It’s still a decent start.”

Ward also dismissed suggestions that the farcical off-field scenes currently embroiling the Blue Square South club were a factor in the defeat.

Dryden and assistant boss Carl Heeley have been keen to distance the players from the power struggle threatening to rip the club apart.

Some fans protested against chairman Dave Boddy and the board at Saturday’s match but Ward says the team remain focused on their jobs.

“It hasn’t affected the players at all,” the Dubliner added. “I have been hearing stories from the fans but the manager hasn’t let it come into the changing room.

“There were a couple of banners at the game but it hasn’t affected me and the other lads haven’t mentioned it.”