Saturday, January 18, 2003

IT is a good job the January sales are still on because without a bargain or two to spruce up his side John Barton will be struggling to maintain Worcester's title interest.

City's nightmare run of injuries finally took its toll on Saturday as a leg-weary team hit the buffers and ran out of steam against an efficient Dover outfit.

The Whites' 1-0 win was an indictment of some tired limbs that have toiled unstintingly but which are crying out for help.

The old adage of the championship race being a marathon not a sprint may prove academic unless Barton is given leeway to strengthen his squad sooner rather than later.

Bar a slap of misfortune and two saves from keeper Paul Hyde, Barton's side might well have nicked a point at St George's Lane but that was neither here nor there - City needed fresh legs and ideas.

A glance at the bench told its own story.

Mark Shail, still not fully fit, the fledgling but untried talent of Dan Jones, Duncan Willetts and Richard Tomkins - it spoke volumes for the reasons behind City's fourth league defeat of the campaign.

While Dover manager Clive Walker could call on the services of ex-Millwall striker Tommy Tyne as a substitute, there was no such scope for Barton to freshen up his attack or midfield.

The cupboard is bare and City cannot afford to wait for the likes of John Snape, David Foy, Stewart Hadley and Mark Owen to get fit. An urgent injection of players is required to bolster Barton's squad.

Saturday's clash was an uneventful affair for 55 minutes with City content to be on even terms but seldom producing anything that suggested they were capable of taking three points.

The record books did not bode well for City showing just one win in their last 10 meetings with Dover but more ominous than that statistic was the lively Matt Carruthers who proved a constant threat and came closest to opening the scoring in the first half with a stinging shot well saved by Danny McDonnell.

A largely forgettable first period, paved the way for an altogether more enticing second half.

Darren Middleton had an early chance right after the interval but Steve Norman's brave block denied him. Ten minutes later Dover made the breakthrough when Carruthers stole in behind Carl Heeley and Mark Blount and unleashed a thumping drive which was brilliantly stopped by McDonnell.

The rebound fell to Tyne who squared the ball for Carruthers to have another stab at scoring.

Again McDonnell parried but he could only look on helplessly as Tony Browne rifled in from close range.

The goal galvanised City who suddenly found an extra gear inspired by Adam Wilde. A peripheral figure until then he exploded into action and a mazy dribble on 61 minutes took him into the penalty area but Hyde stopped his shot.

A minute later Hyde made an even better save, flinging a hand out to tip a Wilde curler round the post.

Several goalmouth scrambles ensued as City pressed for that elusive goal but Jon Holloway saw his header cleared off the line and Adam Webster tantalisingly failed to find a team-mate in another melee.

City's gung-ho approach left gaps at the back and Lee Spiller almost headed a second after Carruthers had pounced on a Paul Carty mistake.

Wilde continued his one-man assault and came agonisingly close when his deflected shot struck the angle of the upright and went for a corner in the 72nd minute.

The match ended in furore when Hyde, Dover's assistant boss, allegedly racially abused Carty and spat at him. This incensed the City players but in the cold light of day what will hurt more is their performance which saw them lose ground on leaders Tamworth.