ONE mistake cost Lancaster City dear as their mean and miserly run ended on a freezing night against Worcester.

In their last two games the Dolly Blues had totally nullified the opposition and taken their chances.

But Worcester, under new manager Andy Preece and his assistant Andy 'Jock' Morrison, had an identical gameplan - and when City had a chance they fluffed their lines and lost 2-0.

It was sod's law that when Paul Sparrow made just about his first mistake of the season the game would be up.

Sparrow made an error of judgement his defensive colleagues couldn't cover and City were rocked despite playing some beautiful football for long periods.

They started so well with Neil Prince going close, while Peter Thomson was an ace away with a smart shot. Then Brian Moogan saw an effort brilliantly saved by James Coates in the Worcester goal.

Referee Steven Cummins then lost the plot on the stroke of half-time when Thomson and Carl Heeley squared up with a spot of sporting handbags while awaiting a Jamie Speare goal-kick.

Cummins pulled the to six-foot plus men to one side - he had previously targeted Ryan-Zico Black as Lancaster's criminal - and gave them a ticking off.

But, with Speare still holding the ball waiting to kick, Cummins ran a full 70 yards to drop the ball in front of the keeper before ordering him to wait until he had retreated to his position.

Then as Speare launched the ball downfield, Cummins blew his whistle for half time. Sadly, that summed up the performance of the official.

City started the second half well but again wasted chances.

Then, on 60 minutes, Sparrow knocked a back pass into nowhere and Adam Webster nipped in to score while Stevie Hollis and Joe McMahon were reduced to the role of spectators.

Suddenly City were frantic - but Worcester were defending just like Morrison did in his career at the likes of Blackpool and Huddersfield.

Simply his motto was 'if it moves, kick it' and that's just what they did as the Scotsman from Cornwall prowled the touchline barking out fearsome orders.

Then Black conceded a needless free-kick on the right, a cross came over when McMahon should have stopped it and Nicky Colley blasted home after Leon Kelly's first effort was saved by Speare.

LANCASTER CITY: Speare, McMahon, Sparrow, Hollis, Clark (Bauress 85), Dawes (Uberschar 54), Jones, Moogan (Sullivan 70), Prince, Black, Thomson. Subs (not used): Yeomans, Elderton.

Attendance: 213