Saturday, August 24, 2002

THE team bus may have gone up in smoke on the journey home but Worcester's season remains very much alive after yet another encouraging display at Chelmsford.

But for wayward shooting City would have comfortably sewn up the points before half time, as it was they were forced to settle for an ultimately disappointing 1-1 draw.

Chief culprit for missed chances was Darren Middleton, who in between two superb efforts which struck the bar, managed to smash the best opportunity he is likely to get this season almost into the next county.

As it was Middleton eventually got on the scoresheet when he converted a 76th minute penalty after Jon Holloway had survived a kung fu style high kick by Ian Cousins to leave the referee with little option other than to point to the spot. Chelmsford had taken the lead on the stroke of half time with a spectacular dipping shot from Steve Sanders which Danny McDonnell was powerless to stop.

City's keeper had continued his brilliant start to the season with two tremendous stops to deny the dangerous Tony Samuels but was left flailing helplessly by Sanders's strike.

Prior to that Worcester's newly instilled self belief was evident as they worked some neat build up play which afforded several half chances, notably to Middleton.

Michael Blackwood and Paul Carty linked well down the left and on two occasions John Snape was the beneficiary but he shot wildly over.

A moment of Middleton magic in the 17th minute almost led to an opener when the striker turned and cracked in a right footed shot from wide on the left of the box which rattled the bar with 'keeper Richard Hurst stranded.

Middleton then displayed the worst side of his game when he somehow blazed a loose ball over from no more than eight yards.

Sanders struck to rub salt into City's wounds but after a half time pep talk they returned with resolve for the second half though it took 15 minutes for them to get into their stride, as they started to hit the ball too long.

The game sprang into life in the 60th minute when another piece of Middleton opportunism saw a beautifully flighted left-foot chip sail over the stranded Hurst but hit the bar and bounce out.

Asa Charlton replaced Mark Owen to make his City debut in the 69th minute and seven minutes later was celebrating a goal after Holloway was fouled.

Despite squaring the match City lacked a cutting edge in the final third to create the winner and only David Foy with an 85th minute free kick came close to taking all three points.

Worcester: McDonnell 8, Holloway 6, Carty 9, Heeley 7, Shail 7, Snape 7, Foy 7, Lyons 7, Owen 6 (Charlton 69, 6), Middleton 7, Blackwood 8. Subs not used: Willetts, Jones, Jackson, Wyatt. Attendance: 421.