Monday, September 1, 2003

CITY bounced back from Saturday's crushing de-feat at Crawley with a slightly flattering victory against Hinckley United last night.

Goals in either half from defenders Jon Holloway and Allan Davies settled an intrigu-ing encounter at St George's Lane which in its initial stages had looked less than promising for the home club.

However as the game wore on City grew in confidence and dominated the second half though most of their threat came from set pieces, notably Adam Wilde's excellent inswinging corners.

There was also a greater urgency about the team though early on too many hopeful balls pumped down the channels for Leon Kelly and Mark Owen to chase betrayed an inability to maintain possession well enough.

Pat Lyons on the bench for the first time this season will surely come into the reckoning for Saturday's game with Dorchester.

It nearly proved a disastrous start for City when old boy Leon Jackson found himself unmarked from eight yards but screwed his shot wide and the home side's nerves were visibly frayed as Danny McDonnell made two finger-tipping saves.

Carl Heeley, in his first start of the season, exemplified the nervous start with a dodgy back header that let in Justin Jenkins but he hooked his shot over.

Gradually however Worcester eased their way into the game and with plenty of endeavour, if little style, engineered openings of their own.

The best from a superb Wilde free kick bent in invitingly for Kelly who glanced just wide on the half-hour mark.

John Barton's team needed a slice of luck to get them going and earned it with Holloway's opener in the 34th minute, thumping home a rebound off the underside of the bar via a Davies and Wilde short corner.

The sense of relief among the City players was tangible.

After the break it was a story of half chances, glanced headers and Kelly's bullish power which left the Knitters' Andy Penny wondering what had hit him.

John Snape went close with two headers in as many minutes from Wilde corners, the first leaving Owen poleaxed - a victim of Snape's raging desire to win the ball.

Heeley also sent a header just wide but perhaps the best chance fell to Kelly courtesy of a pinpoint Wilde pass but keeper Whittle stood tall to deny him.

Davies wrapped up proceedings six minutes from time with a whipped in cross from a Wilde short corner, that flashed through a sea of legs before finding the corner of the net.

It wasn't pretty stuff but Crawley City just happy to be back among the points.

MCDONNELL 7 - alert early on with two finger-tip saves.

DAVIES 6 - hand in both goals but tendency to over-hit balls down channels and con-cede possession.

CARTY 5 - shaky start but got stronger (Holmes 90).

HOLLOWAY 7 - vital goal plus some good defending.

HEELEY 8 - does the nitty-gritty so well including one fine block to deny Jackson.

WEBSTER 6 - diligent and one of the better ones in possession.

SNAPE 7 - regained authority. Tackled well and worked tirelessly.

MIDDLETON 4 - chased hard but nothing really clicked (FOY 69, 6 - keeps it simple).

OWEN 5 - committed but not quite on the ball (Hadley 73).

KELLY 7 - powerful display, Penney will be glad to see back of him.

WILDE 6 - excellent set pieces and couple of delightful passes but didn't do enough of what he does best - run at people.

Subs not used: Hayes, Lyons.

CARDS; Hinckley; Penny (dissent), Jenkins (foul) both yellow.

REFEREE: Mr M Cairns.

ATTENDANCE: 1,060.

HINCKLEY: Whittle, Cartwright, Lenton, Crowley (Lyons 770, Penny, Stone, Storer, Jackson, Hinks (Tucker 75), Jenkins, Dyer (Goodwin). Subs not used: Evans, Bailey.