DOVER goalkeeper Paul Hyde was accused of racially abusing and spitting at Paul Carty during Worcester City's 1-0 defeat at St George's Lane.

City's board are due to discuss the matter at a meeting tomorrow and referee Stephen Castle has documented complaints by Worcester's players in his match report.

Furious City players confronted the 39-year-old Hyde, who is also Athletic's assistant manager, after the final whistle.

The club has a strict policy on the use of racist language and City's assistant manager Mick Tuohy branded Hyde's alleged behaviour as disgraceful.

The incident sparked heated confrontations between Carty, Carl Heeley and Hyde, who sprinted off the field at the end of the match.

"It appears the Dover goalkeeper made racist comments and also spat at Paul Carty," said Tuohy.

"We don't mind getting banter, it is all part and parcel of the game, but his comments were seen as outrageous. If the referee had heard the player then quite rightly he would have been sent off.

"In this day and age to have archaic behaviour like that is disgraceful."

City's defeat saw them lose ground in the race for the Dr Martens championship with leaders Tamworth winning at Weymouth.

There was also a further blow when Jon Holloway picked up a fifth booking and will now miss the FA Trophy clash against Margate on February 1.

Tuohy admitted his side had not deserved to beat Dover and believed they now needed to win 10 of their last 15 matches to have any chance of taking the title.

"One point from a game is not enough now and we now need to go on a winning run in order to be in with a shout," he said.

"We've got a very thin squad and it is a critical time now.

"We didn't really reach the levels of recent weeks and had three or four players that were off par.

"But they have been fantastic all season and we are not going to beat ourselves up about it. I expect them to bounce back."