Worcester City 1-2 Bromley

Richard Dryden is expecting far better for his City squad at St Albans

Worcester City's Blue Square South season got off to a disappointing start as they were beaten 2-1 at home by 10-man Bromley.

City manager Richard Dryden said his side had failed to capitalise on taking a third-minute lead,.

He said: "It was a great start and you think 'Right, here we go', as the tempo was up and we were passing it well.

"But I am still trying to work out why we can't put decent balls in or keep the ball when there is no pressure."

Former Aldershot Town striker Rob Elvins marked his competitive home debut by firing Worcester in front, but that was to be as good as it got for City.

You can probably look at three or four players and think 'he did alright in there', and that isn't good enough

Richard Dryden

Bromley then enjoyed a period of pressure and deservedly equalised after 27 minutes through Luke L'Anson when he headed home Ryan Hall's corner.

L'Anson went from hero to villain for the visitors when he received a straight red card in the second half following a foul on City defender Mark Clyde.

Any hopes that Worcester would then go on to claim a morale-boosting opening-day win were dashed deep into stoppage time when Warren McBean turned Graham Ward to fire past Richard Mace in the Worcester goal.

Dryden told BBC Hereford and Worcester he had no complaints about the result as the better side on the day had won the game.

"You can see where we are missing a little bit as we need somebody to get on the ball and be a bit composed," he said.

"But that was probably the difference and after a few words after the game I said that we probably we got we deserved.

"We just didn't play well at all."

City have to pick themselves up quickly as they face a trip to St Albans City on Tuesday, 11 August.

Dryden made it clear to the City players that he is expecting far better from them, starting in that match at St Albans.

"You can probably look at three or four players and think 'he did alright in there', and that isn't good enough," he said.

"We have got some old heads in there and, to be honest, they did a bit of talking after the game which is nice as it makes a change from me and Carl [Heeley].

"I want them picking me up at about 10 o'clock on Tuesday night."