Saturday, October 23, 1999

WORCESTER City remain deep in trouble in the Dr Martens League Premier Division after they lost 4-2 at fellow strugglers Cambridge City.

But Worcester must be wondering how they came away without at least a point after dominating the game for long periods.

Once again, however, they contributed to their own downfall, conceding three poor goals, with goalkeeper Darren Steadman having to take his share of the responsibility.

To compound Worcester's miserable afternoon, striker Sam Bowen was carried off early in the game after turning his ankle on a difficult Milton Road pitch.

Worcester started the game brightly and Mark Owen, who looked sharp up front throughout, twice went close. First he shot wide from an acute angle and then was denied by some fine defending from Stephen Wenlock.

However, it was Cambridge who took the lead in their first real attack. Ian Stringfellow's 25-yard effort hit the bar and Steadman initially made a fine save from Ian Cambridge's follow-up effort, but his defenders then stood and watched as Andy Kirkup slotted the ball into the empty net.

Worcester were soon back on the attack and Andy Ellis, who made a number of positive runs into the Cambridge penalty area, had a great chance to equalise in the 34th minute.

Owen's shot on the turn was well saved by Martin Davies, the Cambridge goalkeeper, but the ball rebounded to Ellis who lifted his effort over the bar from six yards.

The visitors were made to pay for this miss, just before half-time when Cambridge doubled their advantage, thanks to some comical defending from Worcester. Steadman's sliced clearance came off the head of Bradley Sandeman and dropped straight to Adam Wilde who scored from ten yards.

Worcester needed a quick response in the second-half and they nearly got one when Ellis hit the bar with a header from a Keith Knight cross.

But Cambridge went straight down the other end and made it 3-0. Sandeman gave away a free-kick near to the touchline and Ian Cambridge drove the ball into the far corner of the net.

At this stage Worcester could have folded, but to their credit they came back into the game with two goals in three minutes. Paul Davies, on as a substitute for Bowen, scored from close range and then Owen netted from the penalty spot after he had been fouled by Wenlock.

But with 18 minutes remaining, the home side broke away to score the goal that sealed the game with a Cambridge free-kick.