Saturday, April 13, 2002

DANNY McDonnell illustrated his goalkeeping repertoire to the full with equal measures of the good, the bad and the ugly as Worcester City halted their winless streak with a battling 2-1 victory over Welling United at St George's Lane.

In between some brilliant shot-stopping the keeper contrived to concede a poor goal after just 10 seconds of the second half and 11 minutes from time completed what proved to be an ultimately miserable afternoon by being sent off for handling out of the area.

An Adam Webster double sealed three Dr Martens Premier Division points for City but McDonnell was left to rue a good display ruined by a defensive mix-up and a red card.

"I meant to head the ball but it was going over me and if I hadn't handled it they would have scored and it would have been back to 2-2," he said.

Fortunately City manager John Barton had Paul Wyatt on the bench and the unlucky Mark Shepherd was sacrificed, enabling Worcester to hold out despite a stoppage time Derek Bryant header flashing just wide.

The game had started in frenetic fashion but despite plenty of endeavour there was little threat to either goal with Paul Carty providing the most entertaining, and dangerous moment for City, when he stubbed his foot as he took a free kick and rolled it five yards into the path of Anthony Riviere.

Fortunately he recovered to make a saving tackle in the area and avoid what would have been the most embarrassing of goals.

As the half drew to a close it was clear the match was in desperate need of a spark and it duly arrived courtesy of Jon Holloway who clashed with Wings skipper Mike Rutherford with furious claims of an elbow being used.

Referee Andy Hendley took no action but it had served its purpose and the game suddenly lurched into life and in the space of two minutes McDonnell had brilliantly denied the lively Anthony Riviere and City had taken a 39th minute lead when Webster stabbed home a Shepherd shot from close range.

In first half stoppage time Shepherd almost added a second but Glen Knight parried his shot and Hogg went close at the other end.

If Barton's half time talk would have stressed anything it would have been to keep it tight for the first 10 minutes after the break.

One can imagine therefore the manager's mood when he saw McDonnell and Mark Shail gift substitute Dean Standen an innocuous equaliser after 10 seconds with his first touch.

Shail was shepherding a bouncing ball back but City's keeper was indecisive, prompting Shail to take the initiative and head the ball towards his keeper, but as he did so McDonnell suddenly decided to come and the ball hit his shoulder and fell into the path of Standen.

It could have been a killer blow for City and when Darren Middleton's effort was saved when clean through on goal four minutes later it appeared the game was slipping from their grasp.

But City, led by a typically commited Carl Heeley, proved resiliant though hearts were in mouths when a rare Heeley mistake almost led to Curtis Johnson scoring a second but McDonnell saved on the line.

With the home side very much on the ropes Barton threw on substitute Dwaine McFarlane in place of the subdued Tom Poston and within four minutes the winger had set up City's winner with a pinpoint cross for Webster to head home unmarked.

The goal saw a mini-surge from City and Shepherd almost added a third in the 75th minute before the luckless McDonnell handled outside the area and trudged off disconsolate but safe in the knowledge he had denied Welling an equaliser.