Worcester overcame the handicap of losing goalkeeper, Jose Veiga after only twenty seconds, to record a 2-0 victory over Harrogate Town.
A promising Town move featuring Nicky Featherstone,Rhys Meynell and James Walshaw which was ended by an offside flag, saw Veiga removed to hospital with a badly gashed leg after a collision with one of his own defenders.Central defender Wayne Thomas was brought off the subs bench to play in goal.
Worcester made the early running with Graham Hutchinson heading Dave McDermott’s corner over the top and Nick Wright blasting over from thirty yards.
For Town, Jack Emmett was bundled over in the area but the referee waved away Town’s penalty appeals.
Town eventually tested the stand in keeper when Walshaw unleashed a thirty yard drive which Thomas turned round the post. Lloyd Kerry then had a chance to give Town the lead but he sidefooted way over the top.
Shane Killock and Simon Lenighan made vital tackles to keep Town in the hunt, before McDermott was played in by Wright’s header,but luckily for Town he pulled his shot across goal.
Harrogate forced the pace at the beginning of the second half,but on 58 minutes they were caught on the break by George Williams’ long clearance and Nicky Wright raced clear to shoot past Phil Barnes into the far corner.
Connor Gater drove into the side netting as City turned the screw and it was no surprise when Jordan Murphy took advantage of Matt Heath’s slip to beat Barnes with a cross shot.
Town squandered a great chance to pull one back immediately when Thomas spilt Matt Bloomer’s cross but Ryan Kendall’s follow up was blocked on the line.
Simon Weaver once again held a long after match inquest and Town need a win in next Saturday’s home match against Brackley if they are to climb up the table.
Town, 1 Barnes, 2 Bloomer, 3 Meynell,4 Featherstone,5 Killock ©,6 Heath (Nowakowski 70), 7 Kerry, 8Lenighan (Hassan 70) 9 Speight, 10 Walshaw, 11 Emmett( Kendall
45).Unused subs 12 Nelthorpe,13 Crook.
Bookings Featherstone,Heath,Speight,Walshaw. Att.528
By John Harrison.
