A SECOND-half strike from Kevin Thornton denied Worcester City their first victory of the Vanarama Conference North season as they drew 1-1 with Tamworth today (Saturday).
The midfielder slotted home after 54 minutes to level the game after a bullet header from Mike Symons had put City ahead in an entertaining Midlands derby.
The Lambs could have stolen the game late on when David Hibbert’s effort was somehow kept out by the Worcester rearguard but Carl Heeley’s men hung on and secured another point.
Tamworth made the brighter start to proceedings and twice went close in the opening ten minutes when Shane Clarke headed over a Thornton free-kick before Lee Hildreth flashed a left footed volley just wide.
The game sprung into life after 27 minutes when Hibbert drilled a shot from the edge of the box which was well saved by Nathan Vaughan before Clarke’s follow-up was deflected inches past the post.
Just two minutes later and it was The Blue and Whites who broke the deadlock as Tyler Weir beat Robert Purdie down the left hand side and whipped a perfect cross in for Symons who rose highest to power a header past the despairing James Belshaw.
Carl Heeley’s men had the wind in their sails and were inches away from a quick-fire second when Nick Wright’s fizzed cross was palmed away by Belshaw to Danny Jackman, but the midfielder’s strike took a nick and bounced the wrong side of the post.
Wayne Thomas was on hand to provide the necessary heroics two minutes before the break as the ball fell to Hibbert six-yards from goal, but the former Tamworth defender managed to get his foot there ahead of the ex-Shrewsbury man to deny a certain goal.
Symons came within a whisker of doubling his and Worcester’s tally for the afternoon seven minutes after the restart when he met a Jackman set-piece but the striker powered another header just wide.
It was all square after 54 minutes and it was sloppy defending by Heeley’s side as they allowed a long ball to bounce in their 18-yard box and Thornton was quickest to react and coolly slot the ball past Nathan Vaughan.
The equaliser inspired the visitors to pile men forward and it was the danger man Hibbert who had Worcester hearts in mouths when he met a Purdie delivery with his head, but the powerful effort flashed wide.
Belshaw kept his side in it after 71 minutes and it was yet another header which caused the danger, this time Graham Hutchison met Jackman’s corner but the Tamworth stopper flew to his right to keep it out.
A frantic ending to the game saw Hibbert’s close range strike somehow charged down by a combination of Thomas and Hutchison to divert the ball over the bar before Ebby Nelson-Addy ran the length of the pitch but shot straight at Belshaw.
Manager Heeley said: “Credit to both sets of players today it was a super game of football, very entertaining, chances at both ends, it was a very end-to-end game and I think on reflection I was pleased with how strongly we finished but a point apiece is probably a fair result.
“Tamworth always looked a threat, they’re up there, they’re one of the favourites and we’ve gone blow to blow with them and I think it was two sides who try to play the game the right way.”
Attendance: 625