Dryden says the time has come for his players to stand up and be counted

Lewis Smith scored twice as 10-man Worcester City slipped to their sixth home defeat of the season against struggling Bishops Stortford.

Smith netted both his goals within the opening 31 minutes to put the visitors in complete control.

Worcester's cause was not helped by Jamie Price being sent off before half time for a dangerous tackle.

Marco Adaggio pulled one back midway through the second half only for Harlee Deen to settle matters soon afterwards.

City manager Richard Dryden told BBC Hereford and Worcester they had again started the game too slowly.

"I've probably said the same thing after 10 games here - it was a rubbish first half," he said.

"We needed to show a bit of spirit and I'm bitterly disappointed about the first-half showing."

Smith was the main beneficiary of City's sluggish start, but Dryden had no complaints with Price's dismissal.

"It looked an horrific tackle from where I was," he said. "It looked like a stamp straight down whether he caught him or not.

"I know Jamie and he wouldn't have meant it, but tackling is an art which is steadily coming out of the game.

"You see two-footed tackles on Match of the Day every week, but you never used to see that 10-15 years ago."

City's small squad is already stretched because of injuries and they now face being without Price for three games.

Dryden is at a loss to explain why his side's away record and performances are so much better than the majority of their showings at St George's Lane this season.

"With the away trips we're on the bus and in the away dressing room it's lively as anything," he said.

"When they are here, it's just a totally different atmosphere.

"I've just told them they've got to roll their sleeves up and be men."

City will next be in action on Saturday when they face a trip to Braintree Town in Blue Square South.

BBC Hereford and Worcester will carry regular updates on City's progress in Sport on Saturday from 1400 GMT.

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