WORCESTER City's players can look forward to a rare event next week - no midweek game!

Since the turn of the year, John Barton's men have endured a punishing schedule of fixtures as they have chased Dr Martens League Premier Division safety and success in three cup competitions.

Only one midweek since January has been free of a game, and each match has been extremely important to City.

But after a run of three successive Monday night games, City have a well-earned chance to recharge their batteries next week following Saturday's trip to second-placed Bath City.

With their only remaining cup interest being the Worcestershire Senior Cup -- they visit Solihull Borough in the semi-final on March 22 -- Barton and his men can look forward to a little respite - although they will not be allowed to ease up while the threat of relegation still persists.

Barton believes that tired legs, particularly in Monday games immediately after a punishing slog on the Saturday, have affected some recent performances.

He said: "What we have seen is that there is still the same desire and will to win from the players, but the tanks are running dry in terms of freshness and getting themselves prepared for games.

"I understand the economic reasons why the club plays games on Monday nights, and we have had a lot of Monday games recently.

"Some people feel OK on a Sunday after Saturday games but generally the tiredness and stiffness doesn't come in until the Monday.

"Generally coming into the last quarter of the season league-wise, you do see a lot of tired players around, not just from our club but anywhere, playing on pitches which are nowhere near as good as what we have at St George's Lane."

Barton praised the fixture-juggling efforts of the club's football secretary Steve Bond.

He said: "He has done an excellent job to make sure we are up to date with our fixtures.

"We don't want to be playing the bulk of our fixtures at the end of the season when surfaces aren't the best.

"Steve has worked hard to ensure that we have caught up, and that we have the Boston and Solihull games which are the only midweek fixtures left as it stands at the moment."

Thursday, March 9, 2000.