THERE is a school of thought that if you’re going to do something, do it properly.

As Worcester City embarked on the stinker of their season so far, losing 2-1 at Shawbury United, it would be hard to argue they had not made a complete job of it — and not just the team.

Surely it could get no worse than a listless display coupled with the dismissal of and subsequent three-match suspension for the team’s creative catalyst? Wrong.

Squabbling fans decided to rub salt into already stinging wounds by engaging in a very public and unseemly altercation during stoppage time.

Perhaps the star man should have gone to injured City captain Brad Birch, who lived up to his title from his position on the sidelines by stepping in to prevent an unnecessary and churlish bout of goading from turning into a full-blown fight.

Credit should also go to Shawbury, whose modest number of officials acted just as quickly and calmly. Imagine the outcome had more overzealous stewarding been in operation.

As for the action, it was a damp squib.

Little had occurred prior to Ross Jones getting the better of Alexandru Albert down the left, galloping into far too much space to pull back for Josh Thomas to lash in via a deflection off the sliding Tom Fishwick after 16 minutes.

There were still few doubts City would somehow move through the gears as usual until Mark Danks was sent off on 26 minutes for tangling with the floored Thomas.

Whether it was viewed as a stamp or an accident seemed to depend on your angle but the one that mattered was that of referee Joshua Brookland who gave himself a few seconds before brandishing red.

City laboured but still carried a threat towards the end of an uneventful first half with Alex Tomkinson notching the leveller having caught Jeff Watkins in possession on the edge of the Shawbury box.

The winger’s low drive flew to keeper Ian Havard’s left to stir the Worcester support but they were soon back in the doldrums as Steve Faux’s crisp volley from a half-cleared deep free-kick restored the home side’s advantage five minutes prior to the interval.

John Snape’s tactical reshuffle, going with a back three, wing-backs and two up front, gave his side a lift after the restart but like the joy of the equaliser it was short-lived.

Indeed, Jones could have sealed Shawbury’s win with 20 minutes to play but planted over his free header from Faux’s long throw from close range.

City ratcheted up the pressure late on with substitute James Baldwin left free to scoop over the bar from no more than six yards during the last knockings.

There was no big surge from Worcester, though, on a day for many of a blue and white persuasion to reflect upon.

Smarting players and management promised to do just that — let’s hope those involved in the embarrassing scenes on the sidelines follow suit.