Saturday, September 27, 2003

THE F-word is never far away when watching Worcester City these days.

Frustration dogs City fans like a bad smell and Saturday's FA Cup exit at Nuneaton was a classic hand-wringing, head-clasping, nail-chomping affair as another match slipped from their grasp.

It's not that City supporters aren't getting used to it. Weston, Tiverton and Hednesford spring immediately to mind.

The pattern is depressingly familiar. Early pressure, decent spells of possession but nothing to show for it.

The goal feast against Bath had rekindled spirits in the City camp, reflected in some excellent football but the twin burdens of sloppy defending and missed chances resurfaced to undermine John Barton's side once again.

Round one of the Manor Park double-header (with the league sequel next week) had started promisingly with sparkling City looking comfortably the better of the two teams.

However the platform, built in the opening 45 minutes, was rapidly dismantled by a wretched start to the second half that resulted in a sloppy 62nd minute goal, gleefully snapped up by Stuart Whittaker.

It was a blow City never recovered from despite Leon Kelly rattling the bar with a header 15 minutes from time.

By then though the flame that had burned brightly in the opening period had faded to a dull glow.

It could all have been so different had Adam Webster grasped a glorious opportunity in the 18th minute.

But, if the FA Cup is about dreams, it can also be about nightmares and Webster may have a few sleepless nights over his failure to beat Darren Acton from eight yards, despite the keeper's fine reactions.

Not that it was all about City, far from it. Credit must go to Nuneaton who operated to the maxim that football matches last for 90 minutes and hauled themselves back into contention to capitalise on City's slipshod opening to the second half to book a third qualifying round slot.

It was billed as the tie of the round and both teams brought something different to the party. City, confident from last week, were all slick passing and movement while Boro leaned more to the direct, powerful approach, relying on the size and strength of strike duo Brian Quailey and Jez Murphy.

But for all City's bright play with David Foy and Pat Lyons to the fore, and Webster and Kelly exploiting space behind the Boro lines, there were few clear-cut opportunities.

Webster came within a whisker of feeding in Kelly, crosses flew across the goalmouth and there was the odd moment of danger from some cleverly worked set-pieces but Acton was largely untroubled.

Indeed while Worcester pleased the eye it was Nuneaton that produced more at the business end with Whittaker spurning an early chance and Jez Murphy crashing a shot against the post with Whittaker's follow up cleared off the line by Carl Heeley.

Danny McDonnell also needed a fine save to thwart a speculative Mike Love shot from 25 yards right at the end of the first half.

It proved an ominous sign and after the break City's hard-fought advantage in terms of possession was surrendered in almost casual fashion during a dreadful 15-minute spell.

First to the ball became second, passes went all over the shop and City's otherwise resolute defence switched off.

It proved fatal for their cup hopes and Nuneaton went ahead courtesy of the pacy, and dangerous, Andy Corbett who dribbled past some statuesque defenders before his parried shot fell invitingly for Whittaker to head home.

Stung into life City attempted to claw back lost ground but everything was tinged with desperation, highlighted by Adam Wilde's cross which evaded three incoming players.

Despite the best efforts of Lyons, City had lost the initiative and with it hopes of a potentially lucrative cup run.

Next week offers an early opportunity to exact revenge but City must make hay while the sun shines or risk more disappointment.