WORCESTER City were left ruing missed opportunities as they were held by Basingstoke in a dour Blue Square South match at the Camrose.

Richard Dryden’s side had chances to pick up their second three-point haul in four days but had to settle for a draw in wet and blustery conditions tonight.

Ollie Barnes went close on two occasions, his 76th-minute shot headed off the line by Basingstoke striker Sido Jombarti and his first-half header going just wide from a corner.

Marco Adaggio and Jamie Price also sent efforts agonisingly wide in the first-half as City wondered how they were not ahead by the break.

Manager Dryden though will be fuming at Price after watching the fiery midfielder, who kicked the ball away at the weekend, pick up his fifth booking of the season for a tackle on Sam Tucknott seconds before half-time.

Dryden made one change from the side that won 2-0 at Bromley at Saturday, bringing in Troy Wood for the injured Matt Dodd.

City dominated the first 45 minutes and could have had several goals before the break.

Just two minutes were on the clock when Adaggio turned his marker and fired a shot at keeper Ross Kitteridge.

Six minutes later, the Italian striker showed Joe Dolan a clean pair of heels before firing inches wide of the far post.

Craig Wilding, playing his last game before starting a three-match ban, forced Kitteridge to tip his header over on 25 minutes and Jordan Fitzpatrick tested the keeper’s handling with a left-foot volley five mintues later.

Price should have put City ahead after 31 minutes but placed his effort the wrong side of the woodwork.

Wilding had another header saved by the busy Kitteridge seven minutes later and Barnes arrived at the back post to head wide from a corner.

Basingstoke’s best effort was a fine run from Tucknott which ended in a harmless strike wide. The hosts came more into the game after the break but failed to seriously test Danny McDonnell.

Barnes thought he had won it before Jombarti’s intervention and Price curled a free-kick narrowly wide from 25 yards with six minutes left.

Adaggio and Fitzpatrick were booked for fouls, while Basingstoke sub Carl Gibbs had his name taken after leaving his foot in on McDonnell which left the City keeper nursing a nasty gash to his leg.

City: McDonnell 6, Ward 8, Khan 7, Richardson 7, Barnes 7, Price 7, Dinsmore 8*, Fitzpatrick 7, Wilding 6, Adaggio 7, Wood 6 (Walker 62, 6). Subs not used: Richards, Tyack, Owen, Brown.

Basingstoke: Kitteridge, Lewis, Watkins, Bristow, Dolan, Hankin, Tucknott, Williamson, Faulkner, Jombarti, Ruggles (Gibbs 71). Subs not used: Tarpey, Lovegrove, Ogunboye, Aimable.

Attendance: 312.