WORCESTER City manager John Barton wants midfielder Andy Ellis to repeat his man-of-the-match comeback performance on a regular basis.

Ellis made a surprise return to the starting line-up in Saturday's Dr Martens League Premier Division clash with Folkestone.

He played a key role as City returned to winning ways with a 2-0 success, in his first outing for the first team since breaking his leg over a year ago.

Barton said: "He was tremendous on Saturday and we had performances there that were sadly missing the previous Saturday at Moor Green.

"But Andy knows it needs to go on -- sometimes the first game back is the easiest. His performances have to be talked about over a period of time and a level of consistency."

Ellis added: "Fitness-wise I was pleased when I played 90 minutes in the reserves the other week and was equally pleased to get 90 minutes on Saturday.

"I do work on my fitness, and hopefully every game will make it a bit stronger."

Barton also hopes that supporters will start backing striker Micky Cotter after he netted his first league goal for the club to open the scoring -- City's first goal in eight hours of football.

Cotter has endured some barracking from supporters since his summer move from Tamworth, having been sidelined until late September by a knee injury.

But he led the line well after top scorer Mark Owen had to go off with a dead leg.

Barton said: "Micky Cotter is an honest player who wants to do very well for the club.

"The injury at the start of the season was a massive blow, and what we had to do was to try and get him fit and playing in the context of first-team fixtures, which was difficult to do. But he has come back well and deserved his goal on Saturday."

Owen is expected to be fit in time for City's next game, at bottom club Fisher on Saturday. Worcester are now seventh in the table after ending a run of three successive league defeats, and are only three points behind third-placed Moor Green.

City's Central Conference match at Kidderminster Harriers, scheduled for tomorrow night, has been put back to Wednesday (7.45).