Thursday, May 3, 2001

WORCESTER City crashed to their second 1-0 defeat at Crawley Town in the space of eight days last night.

City will now have to beat Havant and Waterlooville tomorrow in their final Dr Martens League Premier Division match to stand a chance of pipping Weymouth for fourth spot.

The fourth meeting between the sides this season was at times heated, as both sides showed the strain that the hectic end of the season has had on their squads.

City had few chances to score against a well-organised Crawley defence and played second fiddle to a home side desperate to impress in front of their long-suffering fans.

However, Worcester could have led as early as the fourth minute when Andy Bradley got the final touch to a goalmouth scramble but his effort was disallowed for hand-ball.

The face of the game changed three minutes later when a free-kick was flicked on for Crawley's Dean Wordsworth to fire past Danny McDonnell and score what proved to be the winning goal.

Home goalkeeper Andy Little was the main reason why Worcester could not get on the scoresheet and he made an unbelievable save in the 21st minute to keep out Mark Owen's point blank header from Ray Woods' cross.

Mark Hynes could have extended Crawley's lead ten minutes before the break but after going through on goal, he placed his effort wide.

City captain Carl Heeley headed wide before half-time while McDonnell denied Wordsworth a second Crawley goal on 53 minutes.

Both sides were struggling to create clear-cut second-half chances but Little proved unbeatable when Worcester did threaten.

Manager John Barton replaced Woods and Jamie Hyde with Ian Reed and Steve Lutz after 73 minutes but it was McDonnell who was called on to make two saves in injury time.

City: McDonnell 6, Joyce 6, Bradley 7, Tucker 7, Heeley 8, Weir 6, H Carty 8, Greenman 6, Owen 6, Woods 7 (Reed 73), Hyde 7 (Lutz 73). Subs not used: Wyatt.

Attendance: 392.