THE phrase 'home sweet home' could hardly be more inappropriate for Worcester City at the moment.

Monday's 3-3 draw with Clevedon Town means that John Barton's men have now gone nine games -- stretching back more than six months -- since they last won a competitive match at St George's Lane.

Cambridge City were the last visiting team to leave Worcester with no reward, losing 3-2 on February 28 with defender Martin Weir grabbing a late winner for City.

Since then they have drawn five and lost four in front of their own fans -- and on only two occasions have they even taken the lead during a home match.

They've drawn with Halesowen (0-0), Weymouth (1-1) and Dorchester (4-4) last season as well as Bath (0-0) and Clevedon (3-3) this time around. There have been defeats to Boston (2-1), Crawley (5-2) and Tamworth (1-0) last season and Stafford (4-2) over the Bank Holiday weekend.

City have another chance to break that dreadful run this coming Saturday when newly-promoted Moor Green are the visitors.

It's a problem that seems to have stemmed from their disastrous start to last season, when they didn't win at home in the league until December.

Their tally of only six home wins all season was one of the lowest in the club's history, and only good away form prevented them slipping into the relegation mire.

City are invariably under more pressure when they play at home, in front of some of the most loyal yet demanding supporters in non-league football. Most of these supporters feel City should be playing at a much higher level than they currently are.

It has long been a tradition at St George's Lane that when City attract a big crowd, they fail to perform to their full potential.

They are currently the best-supported side in the Dr Martens Premier Division, and are the only team to have attracted four-figure crowds for all their home games so far.

Yet although neutrals have been unable to complain about the entertainment value in those games, defensive flaws have led to more goals going in at the wrong end.

City's problems, however, may be down more to the fact that St George's Lane, through its fine facilities and crowds and the high standard of the pitch, has an inspiring effect on opposing sides, many of whom aren't used to such factors and raise their game accordingly.

Strangely, City haven't had the same problem on their travels, as they've won five times on opponents' grounds since their last home success.

Perhaps it may be that City are better suited to playing away these days -- they seem to respond better when the crowd is against them, and are quite adept at playing the counter-attacking game.

That was seen to quite devastating effect during last weekend's 4-2 victory at Ilkeston when Mark Owen (2), Steve Lutz and new boy Carl Tranter were on target.

City will be hoping to have ended their dreadful run by the time the FA Cup comes around on September 30, when they have been drawn at home.

Their potential second qualifying round opponents have now been reduced to two, Barnstaple Town or Cirencester Town, who meet each other on Saturday week in the 1st qualifying round of the competition.