Halifax Town 2 Worcester City 1 (From Worcester News)

Halifax Town 2 Worcester City 1

8:00pm Sunday 15th January 2012 in Reports

WITH less than 60 seconds of normal time remaining, Worcester were heading for a notable victory over the Shaymen.

Having led since the 43rd minute thanks to a coolly-taken Mike Symons goal, a thoroughly deserved three points — and a first win in three outings in 2012 — was there for the taking.

By the end of three added minutes, Carl Heeley’s men left the field a defeated side and even now they will be wondering how they let it slip against a Town side who went up to third in Blue Square Bet North.

City were the better team for the vast majority of this one, a fact openly acknowledged by home boss Neil Aspin.

But that was scant consolation as all their hard work proved worthless and they returned from West Yorkshire empty-handed.

It was close to the perfect away display from City as they restricted the home side to very few chances.

They forced the first of eight corners as early as the second minute and home defender Luke Ashworth had to be alert to the danger of a Kevin O’Connor cross as he was put under pressure by Symons Matt Birley fired high over the bar over from distance before Jacob Rowe met a Neil Cartwright corner but headed inches wide.

With Rowe and O’Connor pulling the strings in the middle of the park, City continued to dominate.

O’Connor’s effort from the edge of the area was blocked and, after good work from Tom Thorley, Symons blazed over as the visitors looked the more likely to grab a goal.

The Shaymen offered little as Worcester’s defence enjoyed a quiet afternoon and the visitors broke the deadlock just before the break when Liam Hogan stood back and allowed Birley to head on for Symons, who rounded Simon Eastwood before firing home.

Home strikers James Dean and Lee Gregory were cutting forlorn figures as City kept them firmly in check.

And Heeley’s men should have doubled their lead on the hour when Symons headed goalwards from a corner but Scott McManus was on the post to clear off the line.

City may have been guilty of sitting a little deep but they continued to look comfortable even as the home side committed more and more men to attack.

Changes were made as the clock ran down and Halifax lacked the guile to find a way through.

It appeared Worcester were going to hold on as the clash entered its 90th minute but Jason St Juste’s cross from the left was nodded back across goal by Hogan and to the City defence’s horror substitute Cameron Darkwah was there to fire home.

A point would have been scant reward for the Worcester efforts but they cannot have even contemplated what was to follow in the third added minute.

Danny Lowe’s free kick from deep found Dean, who fired it goalwards from eight yards and Gregory was there to make sure of the victory on the edge of the six-yard box.