Bay bonanza can be springboard for City (From Worcester News)

Bay bonanza can be springboard for City

10:23am Monday 7th January 2013 in Sport By Steve Carley, @stevecarleyWN

IF ever a result could provide a springboard for greater things, Worcester City’s victory at Colwyn Bay might just be it.

Having endured a miserable Christmas and New Year, when they suffered back-to-back defeats against local rivals Gloucester, Carl Heeley’s men needed a confidence-boosting three points.

A trip to Colwyn Bay was certainly no gimme, not least because the north Wales side had just appointed a new manager and had a point to prove.

Yet, except for a brief spell in the second-half, City comfortably swatted aside the Seagulls with a hard-working display.

Kyle Patterson set them on their way with his second goal in as many games before Graham Hutchison, another of Worcester’s loan stars, and sub Michael Taylor, with virtually his first touch, sealed the deal late on.

Ironically, City created less in front of goal than they had in both games against Gloucester, yet this time they finished them off, and that was the difference.

That and a willingness to close down and generally frustrate the hosts on a slippery surface and against a biting wind whipping in off the Irish Sea.

The ability to pick up results in challenging environments should always hold a team in good stead and City have now done it twice in two seasons at Llanelian Road.

Two goals were enough on their last visit in December 2011; this time they went one better and are back up to sixth in Blue Square Bet North.

To a man, everyone rolled their sleeves up and did what was required to get the job done. It wasn’t pretty, and City have played more attractive football this term, but it was effective.

With Stuart Whitehead restored to the defence for his first start since mid-November, Worcester had organisation that had perhaps been lacking in previous matches.

Glyn Thompson also proved that a spell on the bench hadn’t affected his ability to be a safe pair of hands as he repelled efforts from Danny Lloyd en route to a welcome clean sheet.

In Patterson, City also have a player who is growing in confidence with every game he plays. It is fair to say the on-loan Nuneaton forward has taken time to find his feet but his 37th-minute opener, an exquisite curler from outside the box, showed he has settled in.

By contrast, centre-half Hutchison has looked the part since he arrived from Birmingham City and headed his side two clear with eight minutes left from Rob Elvins’ set-up.

Hutchison is a useful asset but, with his one-month stay now over, it remains to be seen whether City can keep hold of his services.

Taylor sprinted onto Mike Symons’ long pass to beat Chris Sanna for the third and with it capped what could be a vital victory.