Dryden aims for revenge over Hayes

6:30pm Friday 2nd January 2009

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WORCESTER City are determined to prove what they are capable of at Hayes and Yeading United tomorrow (3pm).

Richard Dryden’s side want to put the record straight after being humbled by the Middlesex outfit in August.

City started their inaugural Blue Square South campaign with four points from two games when unfancied Hayes turned up at St George’s Lane and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.

The result burst Worcester’s early-season bubble and sparked a run of poor home form that has proved their Achilles heel in recent months.

Hayes’ victory, though, turned out to be no fluke as they have flirted with the play-off places ever since and are currently just three points adrift following a 2-0 defeat at Maidenhead United on New Year’s Day.

City are desperate for points, having yielded just four since mid-November and seeing the return match against Newport County called off because of a frozen pitch.

Manager Dryden believes his team’s performances have deserved better than the single point gleaned from the draw against Bognor Regis Town and Boxing Day defeat at Newport.

Worcester head to Church Road with six victories on their travels — the third best away record in the league — and with a point to prove.

Dryden said: “It’s a pretty impressive away record. We were beaten at Newport but I thought we should have got something out of the game.

“We are looking forward to another away trip albeit against a very good side.

“They beat us 3-0 at our place but, if the lads go out with a positive attitude, we can get something out of it.”

When asked if he wanted revenge, Dryden said: “It would be great because we were on a bit of a roll at the time and were looking to kick on but we got our backsides kicked that day.

“We are looking for a better performance than the one we gave then.”

The Newport postponement gave City the unexpected, if not entirely welcome, luxury of a break while Hayes and Yeading played on New Year’s Day.

The extra rest time has increased right-back Graham Ward’s chances of shaking off a hamstring injury to feature but midfielder Dave Bampton is ruled out after suffering an ankle injury against Bognor.

Academy striker Dan Polan and midfielder Lee Palmer were expected to be drafted into the squad for the Newport clash and could be on stand-by again.