DANNY McDonnell insists Worcester City should take pride in their defensive record.

City boast the third best defence in Nationwide North, behind leaders Stafford Rangers and second-placed Nuneaton Borough, having conceded just 30 league goals this season.

Even better is the St George's Lane club's recent tightness at the back. In their last 10 league games, only five goals have struck City's net, while McDonnell enjoyed five clean sheets.

They are statistics for which the 32-year-old stopper -- who penned a new two-year contract to stay at Worcester until the end of the 2007/08 campaign --is quite rightly satisfied with.

But modest McDonnell refuses to take all the credit, insisting his team-mates warrant equal praise.

City's increasingly effective 3-5-2 system is also a key reason for the stemming of goals, according to the former Halesowen Town goalkeeper.

"Everybody is doing their jobs really well," said McDonnell. "Those statistics prove that point. It is not just about the goalkeeper or defence. It's a team thing.

"We have been defending very well and we should be pleased with that. The three defenders -- five if you include the wing-backs -- are all very good players and teams are finding it difficult against them.

"I think the system we play is a lot better defensively than the old 4-4-2. In years gone by, we were not quite as solid.

"But with the three including a sweeper, and the wing-backs, it has made us solid. It just seems to be very, very good defensively."

City's harmonious defence is even more impressive, given it was built from scratch at the start of the season.

Paul Carty and Carl Heeley left in the summer, later followed by Barry Woolley, as Des Lyttle, Chris Smith and Justin Thompson all arrived to face Kettering on the opening day.

But the trio have quickly gelled, while new recruit Dennis Pearce has also settled quickly.

McDonnell added: "With all due respect to the players that left, they were very good but unfortunately getting on in age.

"The people we've brought in are younger and hungry for success. They are working well together."

McDonnell turns 33 next month and, despite his age, reckons his own game is improving.

The father-of-two, a former England National Game XI international, admits tweaks must always be made and credits the introduction of goalkeeper coach Stuart Martin.

McDonnell said: "Stuart has been coming to training, once a week on Thursdays, and I'm finding that a big help.

"I'm really enjoying working with him, as is Lewis Skyers. Lewis is learning a lot and there are always big benefits from having a coach. I'm grateful to the manager for that.

"We had John Newman helping when John Barton was in charge. But when John packed it in a couple of years ago, nobody replaced him until Stuart.

"I'm pleased with my own performances of late, especially the one at Northwich Victoria last Saturday.

"It was a difficult game with a lot of balls coming into the box. But I dealt with pretty much everything and that pleased me."