Saturday, September 25,1999

SATURDAY marked the day that the Worcester City fans' patience finally ran out.

They have remained remarkably tolerant despite the side's poor start to the Dr Martens League Premier Division season.

But an abject 3-0 home defeat against fellow strugglers Havant and Waterlooville proved the final straw for some, and there was a mini-demonstration outside the dressing rooms as the players left the field.

It almost turned even nastier as assistant manager Paul Davies had to be restrained by a steward from confronting a fan who he claimed had abused him.

To his credit, Davies came out a few minutes later to apologise for his actions and to try and appease the angry fans, who had stayed put to remonstrate with club officials.

It is difficult to argue with the fans' actions. The pre-season hype gave them genuine cause for optimism this season, and they have been badly let down.

Davies said later: "What they have seen is definitely not good enough but when it gets personal, it is difficult not to respond to it. I have apologised for it and have apologised to the board as well.

"The time has come for players, and I include myself in that, to accept responsibility for what has been going on all season in the main.

"We feel as bad as the supporters do. We want success as much as they do.

"The only way we are going to get it right is by hard work and sticking together, and that includes the supporters.

"Anybody in the country who knows non-league knows that the players out there are good players, but they haven't been good players up to now and certainly weren't today."

The pre-season title favourites find themselves with just six points from 10 games and presented the visitors with their first win of the season.

One crumb of comfort was the good impression made by their latest signing Mark Tucker, who slotted in well at the back and could not be blamed for any of the goals.

With Havant playing five at the back and former Birmingham City defender Liam Daish marshalling them superbly, City knew they would have to be patient.

What they didn't need was to be chasing the game after only five minutes, as they had to after James Taylor swept the ball home from close range, Paul Wood having been given plenty of space to cross from the right.

Diverted

City did have two good chances to draw level before the break. First Davies' header was diverted onto the underside of the bar by a defender and Havant somehow kept the ball out in a huge goalmouth scramble.

Then Tucker's flick found Sam Bowen unmarked but the striker, who had a ding-dong battle with Daish for most of the afternoon before retiring with a knee injury, saw his shot headed off the line.

But City, whose lack of bite in midfield proved their main problem, found themselves two goals down three minutes into the second half.

This time Tim Hambley was allowed too much time and space to turn and fire a shot which Bradley Sandeman blocked on the line, only for Taylor to slide in the rebound.

Nine minutes later Wood was sent clear to chip over the advancing Darren Steadman, who got a hand to the ball, and the seeds of discontent were sown.

Worcester: Steadman 5, Sandeman 6, Willetts 4 (Carty 17, 6), Tucker 7, Heeley 6, Cottrill 6, Knight 4 (Deakin 69, 4), Ellis 5, Bowen 6 (Owen 69, 5), Davies 5, Purdie 5.

Star man: Mark Tucker.

Attendance: 804.