Colwyn Bay 0 Worcester City 2 (From Worcester News)

Colwyn Bay 0 Worcester City 2

8:00pm Sunday 18th December 2011 in Reports By Steve Carley, @stevecarleyWN #WENsport

BEING within touching distance of the play-offs at Christmas is not a position Worcester City expected to be in.

After going into the season among the favourites for relegation, occupying such a lofty perch with half the season gone would have been something they could only have dreamed of.

Yet, following Saturday’s 2-0 win at Colwyn Bay, that is exactly where the find themselves — seventh in Blue Square Bet North and just three points shy of the top five.

What’s more, it’s completely deserved.

Carl Heeley’s team have produced a fine standard of football at times and have shown they are genuine contenders at the business end of the table this term.

Although not always hitting top form, their efforts have been consistent and they are churning out results with impressive regularity.

The triumph at Llanelian Road made it back-to-back away victories, following the 3-2 win at Hinckley United, and stretched their unbeaten run in the league to five games.

It was also their first clean sheet since the 3-0 defeat of Altrincham last month and, given the conditions, will go down as one of their best shut-outs.

Presented with a shocking pitch that most Sunday league teams would have turned their noses up at, City dug in, almost literally, for the points.

Manager Heeley was right to slate the surface, which was splattered with standing water, but had every reason to be delighted with the way his players handled the mud bath.

Also battered by a howling wind off the Irish sea, the visitors, who made three changes from the Hinckley victory, passed the ball when they could and took no chances in possession.

The hosts played their part in a surprisingly entertaining contest but, defensively, City stood up to everything thrown at them, with Ryan Clarke, the returning Lee Ayres and Jacob Rowe outstanding.

Left-back Neil Cartwright also got in on the act with the opening goal after nine minutes, a neatly executed free-kick which was aimed for the top corner and evaded everyone on its way past Jack Cudworth.

The points were sealed by striker Mike Symons, on as a late substitute, after Michael Taylor, another replacement, had lofted the ball over the advancing Cudworth with barely a minute left to play.

In between, City had chances to add to their tally, with Simon Brown being denied by Cudworth, while striker partner Danny Carey-Bertram had first-half penalty appeals waved away after being sent clattering to the turf.

Despite Worcester’s heroics at the back, the Seagulls had their opportunities — Fraser McLachlan’s 29th-minute shot against the post being the pick of the bunch.

Although beaten on that occasion, James Dormand, back from injury, generally stood firm and showed good handling to stop the ball squirming from his grasp.

Throughout, the St George’s Lane men were urged on by a buoyant travelling support, who treated the sparse crowd to their festive repertoire.

Victory was the ideal Christmas gift for them but they have had plenty to cheer about this season.

They have seen their side keep up with the promotion pack and the signs look promising for it to remain that way.