Murphy magic settles dull basement fixture

STALYBRIDGE C 0 WORCESTER C 1

STALYBRIDGE’S second visit to Moss Lane in a week brought more disappointment as they slid further towards relegation.

Last week they were the away team, this week the home, but there were no goals yet again for the shot-shy Celts.

The only goal of a low-par game came on 49 minutes when Worcester’s Jordan Murphy broke free on the left and outmuscled Matty Regan before striding to the edge of the box and unleashing a low shot which gave Grant Shenton no chance.

Neither side created any clear-cut chances for the rest of a dull encounter, although Regan hit the inside of the post for the hosts in the second half.

The game illustrated why both sides are struggling at the wrong end of the table, but Worcester made the most of their only clear effort on goal in 90 minutes.

Stalybridge boss Steve Burr made three second-half changes in an effort to change the course of the game, but even substituting a Bishop for a Deacon led to no divine intervention as they slipped to their third defeat in five matches, failing to score in four of them.