SCORING first will be “key” to Worcester City’s “survival” hopes, admits caretaker manager John Snape.

City are hovering just one place above the drop zone after a run of 12 games without a win in Vanarama National League North.

They have failed to score in six of their last nine outings and crashed 3-0 at Harrogate Town last Saturday.

But Snape believes 19th-placed Worcester have shown they often come out on top when they do open the scoring.

Out of the 11 fixtures they have broken the deadlock in, City won six and drew three with the only defeats against Nuneaton (3-2) and Kidderminster Harriers (2-1).

But another forward has departed after last week’s exit of top scorer Lee Hughes to relegation rivals AFC Telford United.

City, who made every player available for transfer last week, now have even fewer attacking options after Colby Bishop left for Boston United.

The seven-goal ex-Notts County youngster, 20, linked up with the Pilgrims after cancelling his contract with City.

“If we can get that first goal it will be key to our survival,” said Snape whose side are level on points with third-from-bottom Bradford Park Avenue and host play-off chasing FC Halifax Town tomorrow (3pm).

“Two wins can make a difference to anybody in that bottom half of the table but to get that victory we have got to get that first goal and have got to start strongly.

“But we have also got to be aware of the threats other teams have got.

“Harrogate are going to hurt you if you let them put balls across the face of goal.”

Simon Ainge got Harrogate off the mark on 10 minutes before Danny Ellis and Louie Swain netted in the second half.

“We started the game particularly well and passed the ball probably best in the first five or 10 minutes but got caught out for their first goal,” Snape continued.

“I am disappointed as we knew their strengths but the cross came in and we did not deal with it.

“For the second goal Junior English was pushed but that’s no excuse as we warned the lads we could not give away set-plays.

“From then on we went gung-ho so the third goal was a sucker punch.

“Overall I thought we were good for an hour but our final pass wasn’t good enough which has been a fault of ours all season.”

City struggled to create many chances and Snape says his players must change their plan of attack at the Victoria Ground tomorrow.

“We were a bit too direct into Colby and when young Chay Scrivens came on we actually got it down, played and hurt Harrogate a bit,” Snape said.

“That is a learning curve for us so hopefully we can get it right for another toughie tomorrow.”

Young West Brom loan winger Scrivens may get his first start after impressing off the bench.

City should introduce a new signing in Rotherham United defender Tom Rose who has joined on a one-month youth loan.

The 19-year-old from Shropshire has previously enjoyed temporary spells with Stocksbridge Park Steels and Sheffield FC.

Yet to play for the Championship club’s first team competitively, he has also been on the books at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Stepping up from the Worcester youth set-up will be strikers Aaron Brett and Callum Devlin and winger Tyreece Ruddock.