Saturday, September 3, 2005

IF ever a match brutally exposed Worcester City's current failings, this was it.

For too long now, City have been horribly under-performing in the areas of the pitch where it matters. Regular errors in defence and wayward up top -- it is a recipe for disaster.

And they headed to the wrong part of England looking for help. Yorkshire folk are not the most generous.

Ruthless Harrogate fired in four goals from just five shots on target to inflict City's biggest defeat in Nationwide North and their heaviest since succumbing 5-1 to Newport County on November 1, 2003.

Despite earning an early lead through Adam Webster -- the one major plus point for Worcester -- Town were only too happy to punish sloppy defending to maintain their 100 per cent winning run at Wetherby Road.

Body language can sometimes speak a thousand words and in Andy Preece's case it screamed enough is enough.

Preece, fiercely unhappy after his side's third defeat in six, is getting more frustrated at the state of affairs.

Strangely, it seemed City had put to bed their mistakes against Workington and Droylsden.

After Webster notched up his first strike of the season, and as Worcester sauntered forward attractively in the opening 20 minutes, an away win looked a decent bet. Until the wheels came off again.

"We started off like we were going to win by three or four," said Preece. "I could not have been happier with the way we played. We looked a good team again.

"We got the goal that we needed, a goal for Webby to get him off the mark. Things were going well.

"But the way we defended for their first, second and third goals was beyond belief.

"It's individual errors but I'm not blaming those individuals because we are all doing it. We are all missing chances. It's throughout the team.

"We just quite can't get it right. If we got battered 4-1 properly, then I would be worried. But it looks like we got a hammering and that's far from the truth."

Preece added: "We should have dealt so much better with the first goal. The lad managed to get down the outside, but we still had a chance to clear it.

"We then failed to deal with a ball over the top. But I'm not going to come out and blame anyone for that one.

"The lads know themselves and we'll sort it out internally and how we feel about it.

"The third came from a set-piece and that's poor again. We then miss a number of opportunities and they score a fourth with the most difficult chance."

Worcester opened the scoring on five minutes when veteran Preece, rampaging down the right flank, whisked over a dangerous cross.

Town captain Paul Stoneman failed to clear, allowing Webster to crack a curler into the top corner.

George Clegg was in the right position to push his side further ahead, but two left-foot shots were blocked.

City's plight kicked in on 21 minutes. Chris Brass' delivery from the right was poorly cleared by Rob Warner and Danny Holland smashed the rebound past Danny McDonnell.

It was evenly poised after the break with both sides pushing forward. Worcester's best came from Webster, heading Nick Colley's cross straight at goalkeeper Michael Price.

But disastrous defending followed as Town took the lead on the hour mark. A long ball over the top looked harmless enough until Des Lyttle failed to clear, handing another present to Holland who made no mistake.

Further woe came on 74 minutes when Roy Hunter's corner was powered home by midfielder Chris Ellerker, rising unchallenged between Clegg and Justin Thompson.

Webster had another great chance to reduce the arrears on 80 minutes but hit the ball wide.

Harrogate hammered the final nail in the coffin with four minutes left, sub Stuart Preston firing low past McDonnell from 20 yards.

CITY: McDonnell, Warner (Stanley 66), Hines, Thompson, Khan, Lyttle, Colley, Clegg, Preece (Kelly 72), Webster, Hyde (Jones 76). Subs not used: McDonald, Hodnett. Attendance: 319.