THERE is a very long way to go in this campaign but what unfolded at the Shay Stadium on Saturday will give Worcester City’s hardy supporters nightmares.

Quite simply, Worcester were woeful and FC Halifax Town, armed with battering ram Tom Denton up front, gave their opponents what they deserved with a crushing victory.

Manager Carl Heeley has refused to hide away from the challenges facing his side in Vanarama National League North this season.

But that task will be made doubly difficult if they do not stop the referee from taking his cards out of his pocket.

City shockingly picked up 12 red cards last term and, so far, they have given little reason to believe the figure will be significantly lowered as Cieron Keane and Lee Hughes were both given their marching orders in West Yorkshire.

Halifax were no saints either as full-back Cliff Mayo was sent off following a crunching tackle on midfielder Richard Batchelor midway through the first half.

The hosts were already ahead at this point as Kevin Roberts smashed the ball home on 16 minutes after Denton won an aerial dual with Graham Hutchison.

But, worryingly, City failed to even carve out a single opportunity in the opening period despite having a man advantage.

Striker Colby Bishop, who was handed his first start, was a lonely figure as he was made to work off scraps, while Ebby Nelson-Addy and Jordan Murphy struggled to find a way through the home defence.

Ten-man Halifax then landed another blow thanks to a slice of luck 10 minutes into the second period.

Junior English attempted to clear his lines when he went in for a challenge only to watch on in disbelief as the ball bounced off left-back Josh Wilde’s shin and flew into the top corner.

This was a bad-tempered and ugly affair but City were coming off worse as Keane let his frustrations boil over.

After receiving a yellow card following a needless tackle on Josh MacDonald in the first half, the left-back then picked up his second bookable offence on 73 minutes.

English and Andy Gallinagh put in valiant efforts, while Joe Fitzpatrick knocked the ball around well, but it was only when Chekaine Steele came on that City really came to life.

The midfielder, who was dropped to the bench despite his man-of-the-match display against Tamworth in midweek, forced Steven Drench into his first save. City also threw on Hughes but he did not last long as he was shown red for apparently striking out at defender Daniel Hone.

Halifax wrapped up the victory with three minutes left when Denton deservedly got on the scoresheet with a close-range header.

The third goal capped off a miserable afternoon for Worcester, who will now host Gloucester City on Tuesday in what already feels like a six-pointer.