SUCH is the doom and gloom at St George's Lane at the moment that Worcester City are grateful for any favours coming their way.

One kindly arrived yesterday morning when Soho Square issued the club with a more-than-acceptable FA Cup second qualifying round draw.

City lie stricken on the Nation-wide North sick bed following three successive defeats. A useful run in the country's top cup competition could be the perfect prescription to spark Andy Preece's out-of-form and short-on-confidence men into life.

Earning a home tie was helpful. Being drawn against a side unheard of in most non-league quarters is the biggest bonus.

Of course, Bemerton Heath Harlequins will offer honest endeavour and run all day in their own `cup final' at the Lane, but City should roll them over and bankroll £3,750 prize money in the process.

But before that clash on Saturday week, ex-Worcester goalkeeper James Coates is refusing to offer his former employers a helping hand.

The performance of Moor Green's number one will be a key issue this weekend.

Coates, 20, dazzled for City last season, appearing nine times and was never on the losing side in place of injured Danny McDonnell.

If the former Welsh U17, U19 and U21 international turns in the type of solid display that won the hearts of supporters at the Lane, City are staring at trouble.

And Coates is more than determined to prove a thorn in the side.

"I'm really looking forward to it," said Coates. "It would be nice to see a few of the lads again. But obviously, when it comes to the football, I'm going to be concentrating on Moor Green.

"I've kept in touch with one or two of the Worcester players this year, but not since the start of the season.

"Every week, I always look for the results of any club I've been at. I have seen Worcester's results. I suppose I've been a little bit surprised because they've got good players."

Coates is one of three Worcester old-boys plying their trade with the Moors. John Snape joined in the summer to anchor in midfield, while striker Darren Middleton arrived the previous year.

Prolific frontman Mark Owen also left for the Birmingham club in February this year before later diverting his attention to Malvern Town.

The Moors are, similarly, near the wrong end of the table after slipping to three defeats in four. And their Achilles heel has been -- surprise, surprise -- individual mistakes.

Coates added: "We had a few heavy results over the Bank Holiday and we lost 4-1 to Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday. We've been playing well, but individual errors have been costing us. It's frustrating because we should be getting better results.

"We've got to pick up three points against Worcester because we need to get a bit of consistency going."

Snape could be dealt a blow in his bid to tackle City in the midfield battlezone. He badly bruised a hip two weeks ago and was absent at Stalybridge.