Saturday, January 20, 2001

WORCESTER City fans had the benefit of seeing four very rare occurrences during Saturday's 2-0 win over Folkestone Invicta.

They witnessed City's first goal in eight hours of play, which was also Micky Cotter's first league goal for the club, and ultimately it was only City's fourth home win of the season.

But by far the most significant event was the return of Andy Ellis in City's midfield.

Even though it was his first appearance in the first team since breaking his leg over a year ago, Ellis slotted in as if he'd never been away and gave a superb performance, being at the heart of most good things for City, tackling bravely and acting as a highly effective link man.

He was a major influence on City's first win in five league games, which lifted them back up to seventh place in the Dr Martens League Premier Division.

Ellis was pleased with his performance, saying: "It is nice to be playing -- it has been a long time.

"I didn't feel too bad -- their central midfielder was a bit of a ball-player so didn't do much running about, which helped me. It would have been a bit harder against other midfielders who are making forward and backward runs.

"We tried to get the ball down and pass it, and against them that was the way to play the game. From start to finish there was only one winner."

Manager John Barton added: "We have shown a bit of improvement as the week has gone on.

"From the starting point at Moor Green last Saturday, the performance was better at Salisbury in midweek and it has gone on again today.

"Some of the football we have played was probably the best since the Tamworth away game last January, and you can draw your own conclusions as to the coincidence of that.

"I thought Andy Ellis was tremendous. When you come back off a long injury you are itching to play, the adrenalin is flying, you have got things to prove and sometimes the first game is the easiest bit of coming back.

"To come back like that and have an influence, and the fact that he kept possession for us, had a big effect on the rest of the team."

Barton also had good words for Cotter, who has endured a torrid time with City since joining them from Tamworth in the summer.

"Micky Tuohy and myself were forced to admit that the supporters haven't seen anything to convince them since his arrival at the club.

"But for the first time I saw something when he went on for the last 25 minutes at Salisbury, and he did well today and deserved his goal.

"I thought defensively we looked assured, Steve Lutz had his best game for a long while, and the same was true with Andy Bradley and Ian Cottrill."

Ellis' return to a five-man midfield gave City the chance to dominate in that area for a change, while the three central defenders didn't make a slip to ensure lowly Folkestone rarely threatened, although they had the best chance of the first-half when following a corner, Paul Chambers' header was superbly saved by 'keeper Danny McDonnell.

But although City repeatedly drove forward, the lack of confidence brought about by failing to score in open play in their previous four matches was apparent.

That was not helped by the loss of 22-goal star striker Mark Owen with a dead leg after only half-an-hour.

Ellis was just off-target with two long-range efforts while Lutz blazed an excellent chance over the bar.

The frustration continued after the break as Cotter and Ellis were denied by visiting 'keeper David Readings and substitute Carl Tranter shot wide after bursting clear.

But on 65 minutes -- exactly eight hours to the minute since their last goal -- City's luck changed.

Lutz's fierce shot was too hot for Readings to hold and Cotter followed up to tap home the rebound.

Victory was sealed 14 minutes later when Cottrill worked space for a fine cross from the left-wing and Lutz was left with a simple header.