WORCESTER CITY 1 LYE TOWN 0

THE difference between what should happen on paper and how it pans out the other side of the white line is up there with the most captivating things in football.

Understandably, most of the City faithful expected, even demanded, to see their side comfortably sweep aside a Lye Town team that had collected 10 points from its past 16 outings. The reality was not that simple.

It was hardly outrage, more huffs and tuts that emanated from the stands as Worcester laboured to a hard-fought victory.

Fluent it was not, the supply of entertainment was non-existent and of course it had the obligatory pocket of jittery moments thrown in for good measure.

But before dismissing as abject this performance consideration should be given to the factors that diminished hope of a thrill-a-minute steamrollering of unfancied opposition.

The targets on City backs remain ever present at this level, while two competitive matches together in seven weeks and a steadily-disintegrating pitch combined to make this a trickier test than the numbers suggested.

And as we sift through the mitigation let’s not forget City won.

Coming through uninspired afternoons such as these with three points is all the more likely when you have someone like Lee Hughes whose eighth goal in as many outings decided matters at the Victoria Ground.

The joint-boss and striker muscled his way through Jack Pearlman’s attempt to wrestle him off a high ball before lashing past Tom Turner half-an-hour in.

It proved to be the only goal in a match of precious few chances, most of which fell to City on a surface that had offered up the kind of bounces you would expect from a rugby ball.

Hughes was involved in the first flashpoint after 15 minutes with nothing to stir the senses, tangling with Dan Jones having been fouled from behind while managing to keep his cool as the red mist threatened to descend. 

That seemed to spark City into life as Alex Tomkinson rolled to Brad Birch on the corner of the box and took the return, dashing inside and firing into Turner’s midriff.

Mat Birley’s snap shot forced a simple save with the same player then clearing the crossbar when well placed due to the fact Birch’s nudge out to the right of the box hit an almighty divot.

The opener came two minutes later though with Hughes holding his nerve in a packed penalty area.

Tomkinson’s drive was pushed away by Turner after a Lye clearance had ricocheted into his path with Birch slipping at the vital moment while chasing down the rebound.

Having offered nothing going forward, Lye then had two openings in as many minutes to end the first half.

Jamie Smith had started suffering with a back problem, opening up space on the right but Nathan Vaughan mopped up the danger as Lee Chilton and then Jack Till looked to dart into the box free of defenders. 

Wayne Thomas had his head in his hands as Turner repelled his eight-yard shot with a single strong paw three minutes after half-time. 

Hughes had a good chance soon after but opted to nod into the ground Tomkinson’s centre at the near post, an effort Turner gathered easily.

Matters became scrappy from there but Chilton twice caught out George Forsyth with a high cross-shot held by Vaughan and a rippled side netting causing concern among the home faithful.

However, there was little to worry City late on with Hughes floating a cross-shot just wide having been rolled down the left by Nathan Hayward towards the end.