Alarming freefall continues at home (From Worcester News)

Worcester City lose for the sixth game in a row

7:00pm Sunday 17th March 2013 in Sport By Steve Carley, @stevecarleyWN

CHARGING DOWN: Worcester City’s Matt Birley (left) tries to win the ball back against Boston.

JUST when you thought things couldn’t get much worse for Worcester City, they do.

Already in one of their worst runs of form in recent years, last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat against Boston United made it six straight losses in Blue Square Bet North.

In failing to hit the net, City have also now gone 365 minutes without a goal and, if truth be told, it is difficult to see when that is going to change.

Worcester are a team so devoid of confidence it is beginning to affect the mood around St George’s Lane.

There was a real sense of dejection around the place following the final whistle, among players, officials and fans.

Even the public address announcer, in a perhaps ill-advised moment, relayed over the loud speakers that he was “past caring” when Boston introduced their final substitute.

Hardly what the players needed to hear in a match that brings the club one closer to leaving the Lane.

There are just four left now before the bulldozers arrive in what is becoming a sorry season for City at their 108-year-old home.

Without a victory at the Lane since December 15, they need to beat Gainsborough Trinity tonight (7.45) to avoid another winless month on home soil slipping by.

Quite what has happened to Worcester is difficult to fathom.

Although their mid-table league position is perhaps now more realistic, nobody could have foreseen such an alarming dip in form.

City were a good side not too long ago and occupied a position in the Blue Square Bet North top 10 for around two thirds of the campaign.

Maybe they are burnt out. Perhaps the uncertainty around the club’s future, and speculation surrounding manager Carl Heeley’s link to Telford United, is playing on their minds.

One thing is for sure, this City side is currently a shadow of its former self. Players that can normally be counted on to produce performances, failed to catch the eye.

Midfielder Tom Thorley had an off day by his standards, particularly at set-pieces despite drawing two saves from Haystead, while right-back Tyler Weir hasn’t been the same since returning from a facial injury. Defensively they looked frail and, Ian Ross’ opening strike aside, conceded two sloppy goals in the second-half against an average Boston outfit.

Going forward, there was little or no cutting edge and Pilgrims keeper Haystead was seldom troubled.

On-loan Walsall winger Kieron Morris hardly got a touch, while Mike Symons and Danny Glover mustered one meaningful shot on target between them.

Ashley Sammons, hailed as the dominant force in midfield against Vauxhall Motors, didn’t even get off the bench.

Heeley is right when he says City need something to go their way but it has to be soon because you wonder just how much more of this they can take.