Nine-man City lose unbeaten Lane record (From Worcester News)

Nine-man City lose unbeaten Lane record

6:42pm Saturday 13th October 2012 in Sport By Steve Carley, @stevecarleyWN

WORCESTER City had two players sent off as their unbeaten home record came to an end against Stalybridge Celtic.

Kristian Platt's 88th minute header secured the Mancunians a 2-1 victory, which also saw sub Adam Pepper convert a 52nd-minute penalty to cancel out Danny Glover's 26th-minute opener.

But centre-half Lee Ayres was dismissed for hauling down Mitchell Austin for the penalty and defensive midfielder Rob Elvins was shown a second yellow in stoppage-time to leave City with nine men.

The visitors finished with 10 men following Austin's second booking moments later for a reckless lunge on keeper Matt Sargeant.

City were the better side for most of the contest but have instead been left to reflect on their first home defeat of the campaign.

Ayres said: "I thought we were magnificent from start to finish. I thought we passed the ball the best we have all season, we created chances but didn't finish them and defensively we made a couple of mistakes and they punished us.

"It is disappointing but we can take the positives. I felt we played really well, even with 10 men I thought we pretty much dominated."

On his sending off he added: "Personally, I don't think I touched him. But there's not much the referee can do once he's gone down in that sort of area, he has to give a red card but I do think it turned the game."