10:07pm Tuesday 9th March 2010
By Steve Carley
WORCESTER City showed strength in adversity to record their best result of the season with an inspired performance to win 2-0 at the Crabble Stadium tonight.
Missing a raft of players, Marc McGregor and Rob Elvins struck in the second-half to complete the double over the Whites following a 1-0 success at St George’s Lane back in October.
Carl Heeley’s team defended doggedly throughout, tackling ferociously and putting their bodies on the line for a precious three points in the battle for Blue Square South survival.
Already without Shabir Khan through suspension, injured trio Tom Kemp (shoulder), Mark Clyde (ankle) and Matt Birley (knee) and Alfie Carter, City also suffered the late withdrawals of Tom Beahon (work) and Jack Durrant, who was injured training with parent club Cheltenham Town.
With Marco Adaggio on loan at Redditch United and Louis Bridges suffering from tendonitis, Heeley was forced to drag former Lane favourite Mark Owen out of retirement to partner McGregor up front.
Jamie Price, released by City last summer, was signed as an emergency left-back from Stourport, while striker Jack Connolly made a rare appearance on the bench alongside Heeley.
Dover had City pinned in their own half early on as Luis Cumbers looped a header inches wide.
The visitors’ sole chance of the first period arrived in the 19th minute when an unmarked McGregor headed Graham Ward’s free-kick past the post.
Andy Hessenthaler’s men continued to call the shots before the break but City stood firm and defended resolutely to continually frustrate their hosts.
Often, only Owen, now a coach at City, was left up front as Heeley’s team stuck to their task, defended in numbers and thwarted wave after wave of attacks.
When they were breached, keeper Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton came to the rescue, saving from Adam Birchall and Hakeem Adelakun.
Owen was replaced at half-time by Matt Dinsmore who, in the 52nd minute, set up Craig Wilding for a sweet left-foot volley which was stopped by Ross Flitney as City took the game to Dover.
Flitney also needed to be alert to deny McGregor who had got on the end of Price’s swirling free-kick.
City remained in the ascendancy and got their reward in the 61st minute as Wayne Daniel headed Ward’s free-kick into the path of McGregor and he swept home a left-foot volley.
Dover tried to hit back and Adelakun’s drive was held by St Louis-Hamilton before Shaun Welford blazed over after Daniel blocked Frannie Collin’s effort.
But City continued to grow in confidence and Elvins ensured a memorable night by flicking home Price’s corner five minutes from time.
City: St Louis-Hamilton 8, Ward 9, Price 8, Wilding 8 (Connolly 82), Daniel 9*, Elvins 8, Davies 8, Walker 8, Owen 6 (Dinsmore 46, 8), McGregor 8 (Heeley 88), Emery 8. Sub not used: Meredith.
Attendance: 655.
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