6:08pm Monday 28th December 2009
By Steve Carley
MARC McGregor came off the bench to score the winner as Worcester City ended 2009 with a vital victory at Basingstoke.
The striker, who replaced Rob Elvins 12 minutes into the second-half, rose to head home Graham Ward’s corner nine minutes from time at a chilly Camrose.
It ensured a first away victory of the season for Richard Dryden’s side and ended a dismal run on the road stretching back to February 21.
Success also halted a run of three consecutive Blue Square South draws between the sides and gave City their first league win since beating Weston-super-Mare on October 26.
City looked rusty after nearly two weeks without a match following postponements against Maidenhead United and Newport County but battled throughout to emerge worthy winners against a Basingstoke side still suffering the effects of losing 6-0 at Eastleigh on Boxing Day.
Dryden made three changes from the Thurrock defeat back on December 15 with Shabir Khan restored to the line-up following his return from international duty with Pakistan. Khan was joined in the team by Matt Birley and Danny Carey-Bertram in place of Rob Davies and McGregor, while Mark Clyde was afforded another foray in central midfield at the expense of Gary Walker.
Dave Boddy, who resigned as a director of the club on Christmas Eve, also travelled with the team.
An abysmal first-half saw precious few chances and a lack of quality from both sides. What invention there was came from the visitors in the form of Carey-Bertram.
The on-loan AFC Telford forward twisted himself into a good position to fire in the half’s only shot on target, which was saved low down by Ross Kitteridge. Carey-Bertram also had the ball in the net in the 23rd minute but his effort was chalked off because of an offside flag.
Keeper Jake Meredith had little to do in the first period but remained alert to make a comfortable save from Tom Williamson’s tame deflected effort five minutes before half-time as Frank Gray’s hosts rarely threatened.
Following a first period without a corner, City forced three early in the second-half although the closest they came was Wayne Daniel heading over from Ward’s inswinger. McGregor replaced Elvins as the target man in a 4-3-3 system in the 57th minute and Alfie Carter’s powerful presence came to the fore down the left.
Chances, though, remained sparse and the hosts also lost skipper Robert Rice to injury 16 minutes from time.
City captain Tom Kemp deflected Mitchell Bryant’s cross against the frame of his own goal with 11 minutes left but, just two minutes later, McGregor climbed to meet Ward’s corner and power a header into the net.
City: Meredith 7, Ward 7, Khan 7, Wilding 7, Daniel 8, Kemp 7, Birley 8, Clyde 7, Elvins (McGregor 57, 7) 7, Carey-Bertram 8*, Carter (Davies 90+3) 7. Not used: Walker, Spencer, Dinsmore.
Referee: Andy Laver (Hampshire).
Attendance: 395.
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