Saturday, March 20, 2004

ON a day that gales raged around Britain, City unleashed their own storm-force to destroy Havant & Waterlooville.

Making light of possibly the worst conditions they will play in for years, John Barton's team bounced back in superb fashion from the Weymouth defeat with a five star show.

In the process they ended a run of four successive losses at Westleigh Park in the Dr Martens Premier Division, ending its status as a bogey venue.

Barton, not renowned for lavish praise, was positively purring at the football his side had produced, as was the hardy band of wind-lashed travelling supporters, who registered their approval with a standing ovation at the end.

Worcester's very own tour de force, Leon Kelly, as so often this season, sparked proceedings after just four minutes, galloping on to a little reverse pass from Adam Webster, before bursting clear into the box only to be sent sprawling by a desperate, last ditch tackle from defender Alec Masson.

The gangly Masson escaped with just a yellow but Adam Wilde ensured sufficient punishment with a low penalty kick to the keeper's left.

If that was the start Barton had dreamed of, it got better on 12 minutes when Webster's perseverance on the right hand side enabled him to pop back a ball for Kelly.

Seizing upon it in a flash, Kelly unleashed a left-footed drive into the far corner, leaving keeper Andy Poyser catching only thin air, and the chants of "Worcestershire, Worcestershire" from the visiting fans, as the striker's shot hit the net.

All over the pitch there was plenty to cheer, not least promising left back Shabir Khan, in for the injured Paul Carty, who defended well when required but also displayed real flair going forward.

Even Barry Woolley in for Jon Holloway got in on the act with a surging break from the back, ruined only by a clumsy pass to Webster.

The Hawks, deflated by star striker Chukki Eribenne's no show before kick-off, bared little connection to their nickname, offering scant threat bar a Brett Poate cross-shot and a Luke Byles strike which came closest to unsettling City's revamped back four.

City in contrast packed a punch and only a matter of inches denied Webster when a slip by Masson gifted him an opening but he side-footed fractions wide of the right-hand post from 18 yards. Kelly then forced a good save as City drove home their advantage in the opening period.

The only blow for City was the 44th substitution of John Snape, injured by a kick on the calf. However that merely yielded forth another bright spot for City's future - Liam McDonald who later reinforced his growing stature with the fourth goal.

Despite facing the howling wind in the second half, Barton's team succeeded in taming the conditions with their movement and sharp passing.

Pat Lyons and Allan Davies were strong down the right and it was Lyons' defence-splitting diagonal pass in the 58th minute that created the third with Wilde ghosting in from the left to dink right-footed past the advancing Poyser.

Lyons earned a glowing tribute from Barton.

"Pat was absolutely outstanding, that's his best game for the club by a long distance," said Barton.

"His performances have been a revelation for the last three months since he's got back in the team. Liam McDonald has helped him with the type of football and so has Jai Stanley. Pat has been an integral part of our success in the position he plays. He wants to play in the centre but we want him on the right and he does a great job for us."

But it was not just neat, attractive football that City served up, illustrated by some tenacious ball chasing from Kelly, Wilde and Webster that pressured Havant into a mistake and ended with McDonald rifling in a low shot from the left hand side of the box.

Five minutes from time the unselfish Webster benefited from some determined play from substitute Mark Owen down the left, who squared for Webster to volley in at the second attempt from 10 yards out.