Worcester City 2-2 Havant & W

City boss Richard Dryden was devastated by Havant's late equaliser

Worcester City were denied a vital Blue Square South win by an injury-time goal from Havant's Jack Compton.

Goals from Matt Dodd and Marco Adaggio looked to have earned Richard Dryden's the three points.

But Compton struck to leave Dryden admitting: "That's my weekend ruined. You base everything on your Saturday games, so that is a total sickener.

"It was weak defending," he told BBC Hereford & Worcester, "trying to get the ball back to keep three points."

City had started brightly, taking a deserved lead when Dodd poked home from close range after 14 minutes.

Havant hit back to equalise five minutes before the break through Gary Holloway, but City restored their lead when Adaggio struck on 63 minutes.

Dryden's side looked to have done enough to secure all three points, but Compton popped up at the death to earn a draw.

Someone back there has got to get it by the scruff of the neck and get it sorted out

Richard Dryden

"I was talking to a couple of supporters at the end," said Dryden. "And they agreed that we should have been four or five up in the second half with the chances that we had.

"They dug in and rode their luck, like we have sometimes this season and they nicked a point."

Dryden, whose team now lie 13th in Blue Square South, now has to lift his players for a difficult-looking game at promotion-chasing Team Bath on Tuesday evening (27 January, 1945 GMT).

"It's one of those where you want two or three days' rest again," he said, "because they are big, fit, strong lads.

"They've gone down to Eastleigh today and won 3-1, so they are going to be flying while we are deflated.

"We've got to pick ourselves up again as we can't keep saying 'we were unlucky'. Someone back there has got to get it by the scruff of the neck and get it sorted out."

City's threadbare squad is likely to be further weakened by the loss of injured defender Shabir Khan.

But they may be able to call on the services of former Manchester United player John Curtis who has offered to play for free so he can regain his fitness.

BBC Hereford and Worcester will have regular updates on City's progress in a Sports Special on Tuesday night (27 January).