City extended their unbeaten league run to six matches with their third successive draw against a team in the top six but despite having two clear chances to secure a victory the Lilywhites will be happy with a share of the spoils after soaking up intense Worcester pressure after the break.

The Milton Road faithful got their first look at loanee striker Carl Wilson-Dennis since he netted twice here as a Crawley Town player back in October. The absence through injury of Lee Pluck, Rob Nightingale and Matt Nolan again saw Gary Roberts’ resources stretched to the limit with the newly arrived Michael Shinn named amongst the substitutes.

Rob Miller rides a John Snape challenge

A snow storm immediately before kick off made for an awkward surface and neither side was able to develop any early fluency. As the visitors probed forward down the right Allan Davies combined with Mark Owen, the prolific striker’s whipped cross forcing Matt Langston into a good defensive header.

As City ventured into opposition territory for the first time Louis Riddle combined with Wilson-Dennis on the left before angling a low centre into the feet of Robbie Simpson but the teenage striker lost his footing when well placed and the ball ran harmlessly away from him.

As City appealed for a free kick in centre field when Simpson appeared to be fouled by Shabir Khan the loose ball broke to the Worcester right where Jai Stanley played a neat pass inside Riddle to Owen whose first time curling shot arched across the face of goal before rolling narrowly wide of Martin Davies’ far post.

As City began to pose more of an attacking threat Carl Williams set up Craig Pope for an early cross which the former Barnet full back fired into the feet of Simpson whose first touch enabled him to turn smartly away from Carl Heeley but Danny McDonnell was out bravely to block inside the six yard box and the ball rebounded away to safety. As the Lilywhites passing game began to come together a slick combination between Lewis Baillie, Rob Miller and Simpson saw Wilson-Dennis race clear through the inside left channel only to be flagged for offside.

Moments later City sprung the trap, a sublime through ball from Stuart Niven sent Miller racing clear of the trailing defenders but with Simpson making a good supporting run the former Bedford midfielder took one touch too many and the grateful McDonnell was able to complete a crucial block.

City were enjoying by far their best spell of the game, next it was the turn of Pope to cut in from the right, beating two defenders with a purposeful run his cut-back was intercepted by the retreating John Holloway at the expense of a corner. Wilson-Dennis rose highest to Niven’s place kick, planting a powerful header narrowly over the angle of post and crossbar.

Carl Heeley rises above City's Robbie Simpson

As the half drew to a close Worcester came within a whisker of snatching the lead. Leon Kelly was fortunate to get the benefit of the doubt as he appeared to push Lee Chaffey in an aerial challenge which resulted in the former Ipswich central defender heading backwards into the path of Owen, seizing on the opportunity the former Willenhall Town striker steadied himself before unleashing a left footed drive beyond a stranded Davies, but fortunately for City the ball cannoned off the inside of the upright and back across the face of goal, Owen was first to the loose ball but from an acute angle his follow-up back into the danger zone was cleared by Baillie.

At the start of the second half John Barton was forced to withdraw Holloway and replace him with Barry Woolley.

Worcester began to gain the upper hand without putting the City goal under significant pressure, as the hour mark approached however former Milton Road favourite Adam Wilde did manage to test Davies with a long range shot which bounced awkwardly in front of him.

As the visitors upped the pace Baillie’s attempted clearance bounced kindly for Kelly but with the former Ilkeston striker poised to shoot Lee Chaffey denied him with a well timed challenge.

With City showing little as an attacking force top scorer Danny Bloomfield was introduced at the expense of Wilson-Dennis.

With three quarters of the game gone Worcester spurned an excellent chance to take the lead, a deep cross from Davies forced Langston into a clearing header which fell invitingly for the unmarked John Snape on the edge of the area but the former Hereford midfielder screwed his shot disappointingly wide when well placed to work Davies.

With just over twenty minutes remaining Kelly, who had earlier picked up a knock in an accidental clash with Davies made way for Adam Webster.

As Worcester forced an increasing number of corners Lee Chaffey headed away Adam Wilde’s place kick but only into the path of Patrick Lyons who lashed a first time effort narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

Danny Bloomfield controls the ball, under pressure from Jai Stanley

It was backs to wall stuff now for City and as Owen moved in on the left edge of the area his well executed volley forced Davies into good diving stop.

The main problem for City appeared to be that the visitors had gained almost complete control in the midfield, Gary Roberts attempted to stem the tide by withdrawing the tiring Niven in favour of debutant Michael Shinn.

There was no real change in the pattern of play however. With just under fifteen minutes remaining an excellent Wilde corner from the left picked out Owen whose thunderous downward header looked destined for the back of the net until Davies appeared from nowhere to scoop the ball away with an outstretched left hand.

Having failed to put City away during this period of dominance Worcester nearly paid the price as the Lilywhites momentarily broke their stranglehold on the match. Shinn found Simpson whose deft flick took the visitors central defenders out of the game allowing Bloomfield to race clear, but having been little involved since his introduction the former Bournemouth striker lacked his normal assurance in front of goal and poked a disappointing shot wide of the target.

With John Barton sensing that victory was still there for the taking he made his final change, Darren Middleton replacing Owen.

Middleton almost made an immediate impact, collecting Webster’s lay off his precise lob from the right hand edge of the area forced Martin Davies to tip over the bar at full stretch.

Worcester probed again down the right, Davies’ raking cross eluded defenders and attackers alike, both Middleton and Wilde inches away from connecting before the ball ran out of play.

With three minutes to go Worcester wasted yet another very presentable opportunity. Stanley waltzed through an under-manned midfield and played in Middleton but with a clear sight of goal the former Stafford striker pulled his shot wide.

There were half chances for both sides in what seemed to be an extended period of added time but when Mr Pryme finally brought proceedings to and end both sides had extended their respective unbeaten runs but City will be happier with the point than the visitors who will wonder how they couldn’t convert their pressure into an elusive goal.