WORCESTER City boss John Snape is hopeful keeper Matt Gwynne will win his fitness battle and be ready to face former club Westfields in tomorrow’s bank holiday cracker at the Victoria Ground (3pm).

The shot-stopper had to come off during Thursday’s 2-0 win at Shepshed Dynamo after suffering a back spasm but with Saturday’s match at South Normanton Athletic falling to the weather Snape is confident the extra few days should see Gwynne back in action.

Midfielder Mat Birley could also be back after being left out at Shepshed because of a tight hamstring.

“There’s still a doubt over both of them but obviously an extra 48 hours will have done them no harm,” the manager said.

“The plan had always been to leave Gwynny out for the South Normanton game in the hope of having him back for Westfields.”

The keeper had a nightmare for City in the match at Allpay Park earlier in the season but his manager says that error-strewn game is now behind the player.

“At the end of the day we learn from our mistakes and that has certainly been the case with Gwynny,” Snape said.

“He’s been a little disappointed that he’s not been number one all season and now it’s up to him to secure that position until the end of the season.”

City have drafted in Welsh under 19 keeper Adam Przybek on a work-experience loan from West Bromwich Albion and he came off the bench to make his debut in midweek, coping well in the wet, muddy conditions at a rain-lashed Shepshed.

That game also saw on-loan Kidderminster Harriers midfielder Yanick Gomes make his first start with new signing Benjie Robinson putting in an impressive display up front before making way for Dave Reynolds late in the game.

“Benjie obviously has pace and talent,” Snape admitted. “He’s still getting to know the lads and we’re working with him on the timing of some of his runs.

“Yannick did well considering he’d only had half a training session with us before the game.”

Back in January, City recovered from conceding inside a minute to win 4-2 at Westfields with former joint boss Lee Hughes snaffling the points with two goals in the final five minutes.

But the Herefordshire side have hit some form of late, picking up 10 points from their last four games to lift them to just outside the top 10.

Snape added: “This is a local derby for us so we know we won’t be in for an easy afternoon.

"They always seem to uncover some good players and that’s also been the case this season. They have such a good catchment area where they are.”

Meanwhile, the City board have told fans they will be staying semi-professional next season and not seeking to drop further down the non-league pyramid.

Chairman Anthony Hampson told the Worcester News in early March going "fully amateur" was an option to save funds and pursue hopes of building a new stadium at Parsonage Way.

Hampson estimated then that City would have £150,000 left in the bank by the end of their first season in the Midland League.

But a board statement this weekend said: "The board of directors would like it to be known that the club will not be taking the route of going amateur and will remain a semi-professional club.

"We can also confirm that the club will as a minimum be playing in the Midland League Premier next season. However, we still hope to achieve promotion this season."

Only leaders Bromsgrove Sporting played out of the rain-hit top five on Saturday and a 3-0 home win over Shepshed Dynamo extended their lead to 11 points over third-placed City who have a game in hand.

Richard Gregory, R'mar Murray and Liam Armstrong scored the goals.