Tuesday, January 24, 2006

A LETHAL brace from new signing Mark Danks gave Worcester City their second away win in four days at Hinckley United last night.

Danks smashed home low shots with both feet as City eased their Nationwide North relegation worries.

Adam Webster, scorer of a hat-trick at the Marston Stadium last season, also netted at a crucial stage before half-time, cancelling out Owen Story's opener.

But it was Danks who stole the show. The Knitters must be sick of the sight of the 21-year-old predator, whose two-goal salvo for Bromsgrove earlier this season destroyed Hinckley's FA Cup hopes.

"It's always important when you come to a new club to get off the mark," said City player-manager Andy Preece. "Mark has done that and hopefully there is more to come.

"To be fair, he was not having the best of games. He wasn't as involved as I would have liked, but he did what I know he can do -- put the ball in the net."

Danks' opportunist strikes proved the difference, although City were indebted to 'keeper Danny McDonnell for keeping the side alive at the half-hour stage.

After a bright opening few minutes, in which Justin Thompson tested United stopper Craig Dootson with a powerful header, raggedness set into City's game and slack marking allowed Hinckley to grab a 20th minute lead.

Substitute striker Story ghosted by Des Lyttle to head in Jamie Lenton's in-swinging corner at the near post.

It should have been two just five minutes later when Andy Brown rose unmarked to guide Neil Cartwright's cross on goal. The ball was destined for the bottom corner until McDonnell's finger-tip save tipped the effort against the post and back into his grateful hands.

It was a slice of luck for City and they took advantage by equalising with almost the last kick of the period.

Thompson climbed high to head Les Hines' free-kick and striker Webster buried the ball past Dootson.

Five minutes after the interval, speedy Danks turned on the style with his first strike, latching onto Webster's flick-on before firing left-footed into the net.

His radar was spot-on again on 64 minutes, this time he gathered the ball just inside the Hinckley half and, as defenders back-tracked, Danks cracked his shot into the corner of the net.

Hinckley barely raised a fightback, sub Marc McGregor coming closest with a low shot smothered by McDonnell.

CITY: McDonnell, Warner, Hines, Pearce, Thompson, Lyttle, Clegg, Colley, Danks (Kelly 80), Webster, Warmer. Subs (not used): Preece, Hodnett, Khan, McDonald.

ATTENDANCE: 470.