Saturday, September 15, 2001

WORCESTER City literally ran out of time as they suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Folkestone Invicta in the Dr Martens Premier Division.

The referee played virtually no second-half stoppage time despite several lengthy halts in play including one for home 'keeper Phil Smith to change his contact lenses.

Unfortunately for City boss John Barton, it looked like several of his players were in need of assistance with their eyesight as once again they spurned chance after chance and let slip three points.

The game began in scrappy fashion but both sides managed to carve out excellent goalscoring opportunities.

Worcester's Darren Middleton wasted a glorious chance on eight minutes when Mark Shepherd broke down the right and squared the ball only for the midfielder to blaze over from close range.

Middleton, who has found the net just once this season, admitted he was struggling for confidence in front of goal.

"I think it is a confidence thing. I'm making lots of chances but I'm just not hitting the back of the net," he said.

"Personally it's disappointing but it is for all of us as well. Looking at the points we dropped this season they're points we shouldn't have dropped.

"Today we got to the top of the mountain but we didn't cross it and we've thrown three points away."

Anthony Hogg forced a brilliant save from Paul Wyatt on 37 minutes after a misplaced Carl Heeley header but the Folkestone midfielder should have done better when screwing a ball wide from close range on 23 minutes.

City, who had Allan Davies making his first start in three weeks, ended the half with Shepherd striking a post.

The home side took the lead in the 55th minute when Martin Chandler waltzed through three challenges and fired in off the post.

But Mark Owen levelled from the penalty spot after winning a penalty in the 62nd minute.

Substitute Paul Carty, making his first appearance of the season, swung in a cross for Shepherd 10 minutes later but the striker glanced his header wide from six yards. A minute later the luckless Shepherd was one-on-one with Smith but shot straight at his feet.

The spectre of those missed chances came back to haunt City on 78 minutes when Folkestone substitute, Ricky Reina, was brought down by Heeley and James Virgo slotted home the winner from the spot.

Jon Holloway and Carty were booked as frustrations boiled over but despite furious protests from City officials time and the match was up.

"The performance wasn't there. It was if they were saying the goal will come but it did and it came for them," said Barton.

"There was no bite about the performance. It's three points gone missing and its disappointing. I was disappointed with the first goal -- he came through three very limp challenges."

Barton described the referee's performance as a shambles. "Their manager came up to me and said there's five minutes short."