Saturday, September 7, 2002

CITY have well and truly discovered the winning habit and needed it against a pacy and lively Folkestone side.

A goal down after 15 minutes Worcester's newly found belief and growing confidence was put to the test and they passed with flying colours to ensure there was only one outcome.

Adam Webster duly obliged with an equaliser just after the break before Darren Middleton's diving header a minute from time handed City a 2-1 win, their fourth victory in succession and a return to the top of the league.

The match had started in a similar pattern to the Welling game with a four hour plus journey taking its toll as City initially struggled to get a foothold on the game, despite a David Foy free kick hitting the post after 11 minutes.

Folkestone exploited the pace of Allan Tait up front to hit a few long balls over the top and the City back four looked a little jittery early on.

The home side made the breakthrough on the 15 minute mark, punishing sloppy marking at a corner.

James Millar was picked out by Steve Hafner and his rifled shot from outside the area was parried by Danny McDonnell but only to Tait who was on hand to head home the loose ball.

City regrouped and in spells City still produced the neat possession which is becoming a feature of their play this season.

Darren Middleton's pace and power took him clear and forced a save from Dave Wietecha after 23 minutes but with the rebound crying out to be finished, Folkestone scrambled the ball clear.

A minute later Folkestone should have been two up through James Dryden but if anything his header was too good as it bounced down and then up on to the bar before being cleared.

Worcester responded with crisper passing and Mark Shail spurned a good chance at the back post when he looped a Webster cross over the bar.

In a similar but better position Middleton put another header over and Pat Lyons chipped straight into Wietecha's arms with the keeper backpedaling furiously.

Foy, struggling with a rib injury, was replaced by Asa Charlton on 43 minutes and within 30 seconds the ex-Stourport Swifts' man was in the book for a late challenge on John Guest.

John Snape, a tenacious presence in the middle, roused the troops after the break and it was his cross in the 50th minute that was stabbed in by Webster from eight yards.

From that point City, sensing blood, hurried and harried Folkestone's young team but were restricted to speculative efforts, a dipping shot from Middleton, and a curler from Webster well saved by Wietecha.

With time slowly ticking away City continued to press in search of a winner and Snape and Charlton's one-two during one particular barrage on the Folkestone goal, ended up with Webster's stinging drive, again well-saved.

Barton threw on Leon Jackson for Michael Blackwood who almost scored with his first touch after a Webster flick back but again Wietecha was quickly off his line.

With 10 minutes left John Barton introduced the ace in his pack - Mark Owen. Last year's top scorer is still finding his feet but his touch and awareness have improved.

Finding space down the left the striker's first attempt at a cross was blocked but he fired in a second low ball for Middleton to fling himself full stretch at the near post for an angled header across Wietecha into the corner.

A last minute winner and time for a wry grin from Barton after recalling last year's 2-1 defeat at the New Pavilion when City were denied five minutes of added time as they desperately searched for an equaliser, how fortunes have changed for the St George's Lane manager in 12 short months.