MARK Owen's 23rd goal of the season was enough to lift Worcester City back into third place in the Dr Marten's League Premier Division last night.

Owen's 47th minute strike -- his first since New Year's Day -- gave City a 1-0 success at bottom club Clevedon Town.

It was City's eighth away win of the season -- more than anyone else in the division-- and set them up nicely for Saturday's home clash with leaders Burton Albion.

Manager john Barton said afterwards: "It wasn't the classiest of performances, but it was workmanlike and hard-working and it was a great victory.

"We just feel as if we can do more and there is certainly more in the side to come. We just caused ourselves a few problems during the game by giving the ball away.

"Clevedon are a difficult side to play against -- they get the ball in the danger areas as quickly as possible -- but we coped with it pretty well."

New boy Mark Shepherd made his debut as a second-half substitute and came close to scoring. Barton was pleased with his baptism. "He has come to the club with something to prove."

On yet another very heavy pitch and in a foul-ridden game in which, remarkably, there were no bookings, City took a while to get their game going.

But their defending was solid throughout with the 3-5-2 formation employed recently again performing well.

Clevedon, while having the bulk of the possession, did not create many clear chances.

In first-half stoppage time Paul Carty had a shot turned over the bar by home goalkeeper Mark Hervin and right at the start of the second-half Owen, whose recent appearances have been restricted by injury, struck with a fine individual goal.

Picking the ball up on the left wing, he burst past three defenders before angling a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Ex-Moor Green player Shepherd came on for the final 15 minutes and had a fierce drive well tipped over by Hervin in the closing stages, and although City had the odd anxious moment at the other end they held out of victory.

Worcester: McDonnell 7, Davies 6, Carty 6, Greenman 8, Heeley 7, Weir 7, M. Wyatt 6 (Shepherd 74), Ellis 6, Owen 7 (Cotter 82), Burrows 6 (Lutz 65, 6). Cottrill 7.