Tuesday, February 7, 2006

WORCESTER City's surge up the Nationwide North ladder shuddered to a halt last night after slipping 1-0 at rock-bottom Alfreton Town.

Bearing similarities to their one-goal reversal to another lowly club, Vauxhall Motors, City failed to fight and scrap in equal measure with opponents desperate for points to escape the drop.

Alfreton snatched a first-half lead, like the Motormen last month, through full-back Lee Featherstone and defended their advantage resolutely as City cranked up the pressure.

And, as with the frustrating loss at Rivacre Park, Worcester ended the game with four strikers, straining for that elusive equaliser.

Few would have predicted this outcome on current form. City travelled to Derbyshire unbeaten in four league games, while struggling Alfreton were without a win in three.

The Reds also boasted just one league clean sheet beforehand, so the odds looked good for Mark Danks and Adam Webster to maintain their golden touch in front of goal but Alfreton snuffed out the duo to climb out of the relegation zone.

"I'm disappointed with the result and performance," said City assistant manager Andy Morrison. "Our standards have gone up over the last couple of weeks and this was not good enough.

"You've got to win the right and the respect of the opponent, whoever they are. I don't think we did that."

City were without George Clegg, sidelined with an ankle injury, and the playmaker's creativity was badly missed on a wet, greasy surface that required a sure touch.

The rain lashed down all night at the Impact Arena, leading to a frenzy of skewed clearances and poor passes as City struggled to rekindle the style of football that helped collect, prior to last night, 10 points from a possible 12.

It took half-an-hour for Worcester to mount their first shot on target, Sam Wedgbury driving straight at Simon Raynor, then Webster fired wide from 25 yards.

Alfreton made their endeavour count on 38 minutes. Quick-footed Jon Stephenson found an extra yard to cross from the by-line and Featherstone rose between Rob Warner and Justin Thompson to head home.

The visitors missed two glorious chances in the space of five minutes after the break.

Nick Colley first spun a 10-yard effort just wide of the upright, then Shabir Khan side-footed a Danks cross hopelessly adrift. In between, Town's Matt Fisher was guilty of a bad miss, heading into the side netting.

City: McDonnell, Warner, Khan (McDonald 85), Pearce, Thompson, Lyttle (Kelly 71), Wedgbury, Colley, Danks, Webster, Warmer (Preece 71). Subs not used: Hodnett, G Walker.

Attendance: 256.