NEVER let anybody say watching Worcester City is dull.

There have been plenty of dramatic scenes at St George’s Lane over the years but Saturday’s clash against Hyde could well take the biscuit.

Despite only 15 fouls in total, City’s game with the league leaders produced six bookings, three red cards and two penalties.

I suppose the only thing missing was the partridge in a pear tree, given this was City’s last home game before Christmas.

Awful puns aside, however, this was an incident-packed roller-coaster and if it doesn’t serve to boost crowds in the future, nothing will.

Each of the 782 who turned out got value for money and saw Carl Heeley’s team make it six unbeaten at home in Blue Square Bet North.

In doing so, they pushed the table-toppers every inch of the way and was proof, if it were needed, that they can mix it with the league’s elite.

Hyde played some of the best football of a visiting side at the Lane this season, yet City, who handed a debut to keeper Matt Sargeant in the absence of injured James Dormand, matched them throughout.

They might have finished with a man advantage but striker Mike Symons and utility player Rob Elvins were both carrying injuries towards the end.

Tom Thorley was outstanding in midfield and both of his penalties were excellent finishes, each cancelling out goals from David Poole and Andy Pearson.

Heeley’s men might even have taken all three points with their now customary late charge, this time inspired by sub Michael Taylor, but had to settle for a draw.

At the centre of everything, though, was referee Marvyn Amphlett, an interesting appointment given that he hails from Worcestershire, and to say he had an eventful game would be the understatement of the century.

Some of his decisions made sense but others were baffling and, although not helped by the players, by the end he was desperately trying to wrestle control.

It all started with barely a quarter of the game gone by which time Hyde were already Poole’s goal to the good.

Right-back Martyn Naylor had only been on the pitch for two minutes as a substitute when he and Chris Worsley squared up to each other like rutting stags and both saw red.

Contact was minimal, and similar scenes go unpunished every week across the country, but Amphlett wasted little time in brandishing his cards.

David Birch got his marching orders in the 74th-minute for kicking out at Symons after Amphlett had awarded a penalty against the Hyde skipper for a foul on the Worcester striker.

Although not excusing Birch’s actions, Symons, who was also fouled for the first spot-kick, appeared to tumble to the turf with ease under Birch’s initial challenge.

Frustration got the better of Hyde boss Gary Lowe and he was sent to the stands for arguing in the ensuing chaos which took five minutes to resolve before Thorley could take the penalty with nerves of steel.

Ironically, after awarding City their soft spot-kick, Amphlett chose to book Neil Cartwright for diving in the area when the left-back had clearly lost his footing while attempting to cut the ball across the box.

Eventful? certainly. Dull? certainly not.