WATCHING Worcester City at the moment is frustrating to say the least and there was an air of inevitability about Saturday's latest defeat.

It wasn't a bad display as such but with three points for the taking John Barton's team allowed them to slip through their hands.

Three defeats on the trot makes bad reading and in blunt terms anything less than at least parity with last season's points tally must surely be seen as a step

backwards for the club.

The absence of the much-maligned Darren Bullock has proved to be costly and as Barton readily admits, despite flaws in his game, the midfielder did add some much needed composure and creativity to the side.

"To be fair there has been a lot of adverse publicity surrounding the Darren Bullock situation," said City's manager.

"But anybody who watched us while he was here - and yes there were two or three things he didn't do as a player - but one thing he did do was have an influence when on the ball.

"We have missed that plus his goals and creativity which led to a lot of our other goals and since he left we have been found a little bit wanting and our play has been more direct although to some extent the pitches at this time of year dictate that.

"We have not strung as many passes together and giving away possession too easily has been a weakness of ours."

There are undoubtedly still some quality players in the current City set up but added to skill and ability must be the mental strength to dig in and grind out a result if necessary and City have singularly failed to do that.

One player who certainly looked up for the task on Saturday was substitute Mark Shepherd who replaced Stewart Hadley.

He was simply outstanding and after his excellent second half display against Chelmsford deserves the chance to renew acquaintance with Welling United against whom he scored a hat-trick earlier in the season.

Shepherd's contract is up at the end of the season and with injuries having disrupted his season to date he must be fearing the worst. However if he can reproduce Saturday's form in the last three games he could yet persuade Barton he's worth a punt next year.

But with Mark Owen, Hadley and Adam Webster as rivals up front, it may already be a fait

accompli for the 23-year-old, who rumours suggest is a target for both Evesham United and Moor Green.