Monday, February 13, 2006

WORCESTER City marched two places up Nationwide North last night with a comfortable 2-0 win over Leigh RMI at St George's Lane.

Nick Colley and Mark Danks both hit the scoresheet as ship-shape City kept their third league clean sheet in four matches.

Following Saturday's excellent 1-0 victory over high-flying Northwich Victoria, the pressure was on Andy Preece's side to maintain good form and accelerate up the table.

They delivered in style, dispatching with consummate ease a poor Leigh outfit that will hit trouble preserving their league status on the evidence of this surrender.

But discounting the frailties of the out-worked Railwaymen, City were always on top and thrived with confidence.

"It was a vital result because we bridged a little gap between ourselves and the bottom teams," said goalscorer Colley.

"We've caught everybody up and this is where the hard work begins.

"Anything other than three points and we would have done a lot of harm.

"Leigh are a good side, but in the end we out-battled them and I think we played some of the best stuff we've ever played.

"The third goal would have been vital, but our defence was outstanding, as they were at Northwich."

Colley enjoyed his finest game for some time, showing good movement and exquisite care and distribution of the ball, while midfield team-mates Tom Warmer and George Clegg were not far behind.

The trio had a solid platform to create openings, in front of a rear-guard that once again were rarely troubled.

Chris Smith slotted into Worcester's three-man defence for his first start since Boxing Day, as Dennis Pearce moved to left wing-back, and both delivered polished displays.

Only on the odd occasion were the home defence caught napping.

City hit the groove after shaking off a slow opening 15 minutes, Danks firing staight at ex-Worcester goalkeeper James Coates from 20 yards.

At the other end, unmarked striker Alex Hay slipped clear of Thompson to head over from the penalty spot.

Danks was also guilty of failing to keep his header down following Rob Warner's pin-point cross.

City edged ahead on 35 minutes from an excellent move. Clegg's intelligent pass released Colley and the midfielder finished with aplomb inside the Leigh area.

The lead may have lasted four minutes as the visitors caught City cold. Chris Simm raced clear on goal following a defensive mix-up and slammed his shot against the upright.

Scott Willis hammered the rebound against Lyttle on the goal-line, prompting penalty shouts that were turned away.

Before the interval, Danks finished the contest with his fifth goal in six starts. Warmer threaded Adam Webster down the right-hand channel and the striker's low centre was buried by Danks at the far post.

That took the steam out of the Railwaymen, but City could not summon a third goal to jump above Lancaster into the top half of the table.

Coates denied Danks 12 seconds after the interval and Webster thudded a header against the bar.

From Pearce's perfect delivery, Danks glanced another header wide and Smith shot over.

Cheers rang from the crowd as Worcester dominated possession in the final stages, although sub Ryan McDowell went close for Leigh.

CITY: McDonnell, Warner, Pearce, Smith, Thompson, Lyttle, Clegg (G Walker 88), Colley, Danks (Kelly 80), Webster (Preece 86), Warmer. Subs (not used): Wedgbury, Khan.

ATTENDANCE: 818.