Worcester City 1 (Murphy 8), Curzon Ashton 1 (Cummins 13)

WORCESTER fans are struggling to know how to feel.

Should they be proud of the undoubted effort or frustrated over the lack of nous required to break down opponents, particularly on home soil?

For all of the fight, the fast start and willingness to dig in against a Curzon outfit that displayed no shortage of quality in flashes, those on the terraces could not help feeling irritated by odd moments.

The wrong pass, the occasional lack of awareness to close down, not being in a rush to pile forward with extra points at stake during the latter stages.

It all led to a dejected rather than angry response at full-time.

Had City made more of their second-half possession or taken one of two big chances the outlook would be rose tinted.

But in truth, the statistics did not lie – Curzon were worthy of their point and perhaps went closer to pinching victory in a tight battle with few moments of magic.

It all started so well as the hosts charged around like men possessed and Danny Jackman fired a signal of intent over the crossbar after 30 seconds.

Curzon were rattled and the opener came as no surprise on eight minutes, albeit with an element of fortune.

Visiting midfielder Luke Clark tried to hook a long punt forward but could only help it on to Jordan Murphy who scampered away to roll his fifth goal in seven outings between the legs of keeper Cameron Mason, a last-ditch replacement for the injured Hakan Burton.

But all too soon after City had seized the initiative, the visitors hit back.

A series of early fouls ended with Matthew Warburton floating in a free-kick for Niall Cummins to flick the leveller across Nathan Vaughan from the near post with 13 minutes on the clock.

The frantic tempo that had dictated the play continued, leading to a lack of poise at both ends.

Clark, who bossed the midfield, drove a low cross-shot which whistled past Vaughan’s far upright while evading the onrushing Jordan Wright nine minutes before the break.

Shortly after the interval, Cummins looked offside but rolled in Warburton for a certain second only for Vaughan’s outstretched leg to maintain parity.

Frustration followed when Kuda Muskwe’s fierce centre flew beyond Murphy in the middle as City upped the ante without convincing.

The visitors chanced their arm with a flurry of efforts midway through the second half but found the likes of Ebby Nelson-Addy willing and able to charge down.

Worcester’s perfect ending was spoiled by the woodwork as Murphy turned provider only for Muskwe to hit the base of the post when it looked easier to score with 10 minutes left.

As it was, a two-point lead over Gainsborough, 1-0 losers at home to Stockport, became three.

But will it be enough with big-hitters Chorley, Stockport, Salford and Fylde to come?

Time will tell but one certainty is that it will not be for the want of trying.