DARREN Middleton exorcised a few spot kick de-mons last weekend with two penalties on his way to a match-winning hat-trick.

The Worcester City midfielder confessed to a few nerves before taking the first of the penalties against Weymouth after missing an earlier effort against Moor Green in January.

Fortunately Middleton held his nerve to fire City to a much-needed victory boost that sets them up nicely for today's trip to Cambridge City.

"It was a terrible penalty at Moor Green - the first one I've ever missed and it did go through my mind before I stepped up to take the first one last week," said Middleton.

"But I never had any doubts that I was going to take it. No one else said anything and I have taken them all year so that was it as far as I was concerned.

"It was nice to score again because it's been a while and also to get two games under my belt inside a week and suffer no ill effects from the injury was another plus.

"The third goal was very lucky but we're always told to press and close down and I just carried on running and he's given it a good whack straight into my abdomen where I've been having the problems - it's just about stopped hurting now!"

Middleton's treble takes him to 17 for the season, with 15 in the league, two more than Adam Webster but he insists it doesn't matter who gets the goals as long as Worcester win.

"There is no real rivalry between us we just encourage each other as much as much as possible," added Middleton.

"It's a shame we have not had an out and out goalscorer to get 25 or 30 goals but I'm not bothered who scores the goals as long as it benefits the team.

"I had no targets at the start of the season but it would be good to get 20 in the league which would be a good amount for a midfield player.

"I think I have adapted to midfield and I really enjoy playing there.

"I started the season up front and that went well but you have to play where you have to play and I think that's midfield now and maybe that is where I will be for the rest of my career."