FOUR matches into the new season and already Worcester City are facing their first crisis.

The confidence gained by impressive performances in their first two Dr Martens League Premier Division games has evaporated by conceding eight goals over the holiday weekend.

Yesterday's abysmal 4-1 defeat at Merthyr Tydfil brought several shortcomings home to roost, which need to be addressed quickly.

One is lack of depth in the squad. City were down to the bare bones with injuries on Saturday ruling out midfielder Paul Carty, winger Ian Reed and goalkeeper Paul Hayward.

Teenagers

Midfielder Ian Cottrill, defender Martin Weir, who scored City's goal, and goalkeeper Danny McDonnell were all pressed into service when under ideal circumstances, they would not have played. That also left three teenagers on the bench.

City's defensive security has been lacking, with their failure to deal with Merthyr's strong point -- set-pieces -- costing them dearly, while up front, star striker Mark Owen is still looking for his first goal of the season but is not getting the service he desires.

Manager John Barton said: "You cannot believe the transformation in a week. It has been a very disappointing weekend after a promising start.

"It is not good enough. The last two performances will land us back in trouble.

"I'm not prepared to hide behind the injury situation as well. People have done a good job for us since last November and we expect the same job to be done this season as well.

"They were two awful performances and we have got what we deserved from both of them.

City were on the back foot from the off and went behind on 14 minutes when they failed to deal with a right-wing free-kick bouncing across the box and player-manager Keith Walker bundled the ball home.

But they gave themselves false hope with a 38th-minute equaliser which on the balance of play, they barely deserved. Mike Wyatt swung in a free-kick from the left, Carl Heeley's header was well saved by 'keeper Neil Thomas but Weir lashed home the rebound.

But another set-piece caught City napping again in the 57th minute, a right-wing corner that the giant former Hereford United player Gareth Abraham headed home.

In the 74th minute Weir was harshly penalised for handball and Ian Mitchell converted the resulting penalty.

Worcester's misery was completed seven minutes later when 18-year-old substitute Wesley Joyce failed to cut out a right-wing cross and Darren Ryan easily beat McDonnell.

Worcester: McDonnell 5, Bradley 4 (Joyce 78), Jukes 4, Tucker 4, Weir 6, Heeley 5, Wyatt 5, Cottrill 4, Owen 4, Lutz 5, Deakin 4 (Jefferson 78). Sub not used: Hyde.

Attendance: 667.