Football
City slump to fourth straight defeat

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Worcester City 0 Colwyn Bay 1

Tim Clarke reports from St George's Lane.

WORCESTER City are still searching for their first point in 2012 after they slumped to a lacklustre 1-0 defeat against Colwyn Bay at St George's Lane.

Rob Hobley's 11th minute strike was enough to condemn City to their fourth straight league defeat and deal another blow to their play off ambitions.

The victory was sweet revenge for Jon Newby's men who were beaten 2-0 by City on the north Wales coast back in December in a performance Carl Heeley described at the time as one of the best he had seen from his side.

But this was a stark contrast as City repeatedly gifted the visitors possession and laboured to create any decent openings, as Mike Symons ploughed a lone furrow up front.

Wide men Danny Edwards and Matt Birley failed to provide Symons with the support he needed and it was only when Michael Taylor came on alongside City's top scorer on the hour mark that the home side looked threatening.

City had lost only once at home all season going into Saturday's game but yet again they were faced with the task of coming from behind as they conceded with barely ten minutes gone.

Shelton Payne, whose electric pace was a constant thorn in City's side, broke down the left and his cross into the six yard box was turned home at the second attempt by Hobley.

Things went from bad to worse for City eight minutes later as keeper James Dormand was replaced by Matt Sargeant after pulling his calf muscle while taking a goal kick.

Symons continued to toil away up front but with City struggling to string more than two passes together, there was little to suggest the home side were about to muster another great escape.

In fact City's only effort of the half came when Ellis Deeney's innocuous looking free kick was fumbled by Chris Sanna but the Seagulls keeper was able to recover.

It was the visitors who came closest to doubling their advantage on the stroke of half time as player manager Newby's curling shot from just inside the area cannoned against City's crossbar.

Symons was finally given the support he was craving on the hour mark as substitute Taylor replaced Ryan Clarke, who had endured a torrid afternoon trying to contain winger Payne.

The change almost immediately paid dividends as Symons slipped a pass into the path of Tom Thorley but the midfielder drove wide from 12 yards.

New signing Phil Green was also thrown into the fray as time started to run out on City, but Colwyn almost put the game beyond doubt as Sargeant kept out Payne's low shot.

Green was presented with a difficult oportunity for City late on but the angle was too acute and the hosts' last chance had gone.