City 1 Stalybridge Celtic 1

5:43pm Sunday 18th February 2007

WORCESTER City must be sick of the sight of Stalybridge Celtic.

And if that wasn't the case before Saturday's 1-1 draw at St George's Lane, it certainly must be now.

Once again City saw their play-off dream dented at the hands of John Reed's men, saved only by Craig Wilding's last-gasp equaliser.

Lee Ellington grabbed a last-minute winner in the corresponding fixture during last season's promotion push and he converted a 76th-minute penalty to give his side the lead on Saturday.

Stalybridge's top scorer has now found the net in each of his last four matches against Worcester.

Given that record, he is unlikely to be greeted with open arms the next time the sides meet.

But while Ellington isn't proving particularly popular with City's defence, Dominic Krief is positively public enemy number one.

The former Farsley midfielder, who hit a last-gasp winner for his ex-employers against City in September, escaped punishment on 16 minutes after blatantly kicking a stricken Shaun Findlay in the face.

Debut-maker Findlay was lying on the floor after a challenge when Krief jabbed at the youngster's head twice with his studs, appearing to catch him on the cheek.

The concussed former Stourport Swifts midfielder managed to soldier on for 20 minutes before being replaced by George Clegg.

From then on, Krief was repeatedly subjected to a torrent of boos every time he touched the ball and was even left to cool off in the half-time kickabout.

His actions soured an already physical contest, which was devoid of good football for large parts and offered precious few genuine chances.

The game didn't really come to life until Stalybridge were awarded a penalty 14 minutes from time.

Referee Mark Sutton judged Danny Hodnett to have fouled Mark Hume close to the by-line and Ellington beat Paul Wyatt, deputising for 'flu victim Danny McDonnell, with the resulting spot kick.

Hodnett had already been booked but Sutton only chose to take action against Adam Burley for dissent.

That saw City, again playing 4-4-2, crank up the pressure in search of an equaliser.

They came close when Burley's volley was tipped over by Simon Bishop and Graham Ward, playing in midfield, fired a free-kick inches wide.

Wilding finally broke Celtic's resolve deep into injury-time.

Following a frantic scramble in the box, Justin Thompson fired in a shot and the striker stuck out a boot to turn home his 14th goal of the season.

It was Wilding who had City's best effort of the first-half when he forced an instinctive close-range block from Bishop with 29 minutes gone following good work by Burley and Chris Cornes.

Stalybridge had two good opportunities of their own to take the lead before the break.

On 39 minutes, Paul Sykes was set clear by a dummy from Matty Barlow but proceeded to make a right mess of a one-on-one with Wyatt, his hesitancy allowing defenders to clear.

Then, two minutes later, Hume blazed over the crossbar from James Olsen's free-kick.

Adam Webster came close to giving Worcester the lead on 66 minutes but Bishop, replacing transfer-listed captain Paul Pettinger between the posts, cleared his header from under the crossbar.

City: Wyatt, Ward, Burley, Smith, Thompson, Hodnett, Cornes (Warmer 52), Webster, Danks, Wilding, Findlay (Clegg 36). Subs not used: Khan, Colley, Lyttle.

Attendance: 910.

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