JOEL Caines was withdrawn at half-time of Worcester City’s 1-0 friendly defeat to the RAF after suffering a recurrence of his ankle ligament injury.

The full-back or midfielder returned after more than a month out by turning out for the reserves on Saturday before starting Tuesday's first-team match at Pershore Town.

AS IT HAPPENED: City 0 RAF XI 1 

However, manager John Snape revealed the ex-Stourport Swifts man would be unlikely to feature in Saturday’s Midland Football League Premier Division trip to Quorn (3pm) after his half-time substitution.

“Joel suffered a flare up, he went over on his ankle again. It was tight and you could tell he was starting to feel it so we took the precaution of bringing him off," said Snape.

“Looking at it I cannot see him being back for Saturday. He iced it and we will hopefully know more about the full extent of the damage on Thursday.”

The clash saw a strong City line-up defeated by Ben Cullen’s opportunist finish 11 minutes before half-time, stretching to prod beyond keeper Sam Gilder from point-blank range despite calls for an offsider flag.

Chances were few and far between at both ends but it was keenly contested with no quarter given in some robust-but-fair challenges.

City looked brighter after half-time with substitute Liam Lockett adding impetus and strikers Jordan Harrison and Jamal Lawrence flourishing during that spell before being replaced.

“It was a very competitive game, I don’t think the pitch helped either side but both dug in and that made for a good tussle,” added Snape.

“I was disappointed with the goal. We had to stop the cross and it bobbled over Sam Hall’s foot for their lad to slot it away.

“Other than that I don’t think Sam (Gilder) had a shot to save. There was maybe one before that but nothing else I can recall on target.

“Again we have been guilty of getting in good areas without pulling the trigger or hitting the target.

“Liam Lockett went through a couple of times and went close, Kyonn Evans hit the side netting and Jordan Harrison had to score with the one chance.

“Like some of the others, Jordan is lacking a bit of confidence at the minute but credit to him for working his socks off. He looked a lot better than he has for a while.”

Trialling striker or attacking midfielder Isai Marselia, a Dutch player who was part of the under-23 squad at second-tier club Go Ahead Eagles in his homeland, played the second half and is likely to feature for the reserves on Saturday.

City: Gilder, English, Caines (Lockett, h-t), Hall, McFarlane, Withington, Birley (Evans, h-t), Willis, Harrison (Lemon, 62), Lawrence (Marselia, 62), Moran (Baldwin, 62).