THE TWO in-form teams of the Conference North meet at The Lamb Ground tomorrow (Sunday) as Worcester City take on Tamworth.
City head to Staffordshire having won six of their last seven league games but will face a tough test from their hosts who themselves have secured six Conference North victories on the spin.
Worcester’s Boxing Day encounter at home to Hednesford Town was abandoned after 75 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch but The Lambs had no such trouble as they recorded an impressive 2-0 victory at promotion-chasing Solihull Moors.
Following the Hednesford postponement, Carl Heeley’s men remain unbeaten in the league since September 20 and could welcome back former Tamworth defender Wayne Thomas to their starting line-up.
Thomas hasn’t featured since the FA Cup defeat to Scunthorpe United ten days ago but is likely to make a return at his old stomping ground.
On-loan winger Jordan Murphy is also in contention for a start despite taking a knock to the head in yesterday’s game.
The hosts have propelled themselves up to 10th in the league and level on points with Worcester, despite playing three games more, thanks to their run of fine form.
Their recent upturn in fortunes comes on the back of just two wins in their opening 16 games.
That included when the two sides met at Aggborough back in August as a Kevin Thornton second-half strike cancelled out Mike Symons early opener in an entertaining 1-1 draw.
And experienced midfielder Danny Jackman was under no illusion of the challenge ahead of his side and believes Tamworth are lying in a ‘false position’.
“It will be another tough game,” he said. “They are a good team and perhaps in a false position at the minute.
“It is going to be tough but we have to start and do the things we have been doing well in the past few weeks.
“There is no let up, we can’t take our foot off it because there are teams that will take the points off you.”
A live blog will be available at www.worcesterobserver.co.uk online.