The game was keenly contested in midfield, Worcester with their superior ability to retain possession showed the patience to work space in and around the City box. On 12 minutes persistent probing down the right hand side created the space for Allan Davies to appear as the spare man on the edge of the box, but with more time than he realised the former Burton Albion right back over hit his centre with his team mates poised to strike.

With a quarter of an hour gone the returning Adam Wilde made his first meaningful contribution forcing a left wing corner off Rob Nightingale. As the place kick came in it was only partially dealt with and bounced high on the edge of the area. In attempting to clear Kevin Wilkin accidentally kicked John Holloway in the head and was penalised for dangerous play presenting Worcester with an indirect free kick some 10 yards from goal, Adam Wilde’s strike on goal cleared by Matt Rice at full stretch.

As Worcester began to turn the screw it was Wilde again who featured in the next meaningful attack. With Worcester over-lapping on the left Jack Wignall was committed, allowing the former Lilywhites winger to float the ball across the six yard box, where, to the relief of the home side, the unmarked Adam Webster failed to connect in front of goal.

As the half developed City were forced to soak up pressure from the visitors and rely primarily on the breakaways. On 25 minutes Niven played in Simpson down the right, the pacy striker doing extremely well to get the better of Jones and square the ball back across the box but with City unable to commit numbers forward there was no-one following up.

City’s goal was soon under threat again however. Paul Carty played a spiralling ball into the box from left back which put the home defence on the back foot. This time it was Heeley picking up the pieces on the edge of the box, his fierce drive deflecting off Niven and behind for a corner.

Worcester’s neat approach play nearly paid dividends again on 35 minutes. Davies was played in deep on the right and his cross was handled by Wardley near the corner flag. David Foy’s free kick again causing alarm in the City goalmouth. Colin Vowden was first to the ball but his powerful downward header kicked up off the turf onto the crossbar and behind for a corner. Within the next three minutes Worcester carved City open twice more but crucially failed to score despite their territorial dominance. Firstly Carty’s through ball took Vowden out of the game, Webster collected, held off Rice and sent a subtle lofted shot on the turn over the stranded Davies but narrowly high of the target. Moments later Wilde threaded a ball through from the left which completely dissected the City back line, Darren Middleton outpaced the turning Rice and Vowden and fired powerfully across Davies. The City stopper pulled off a great save however, diving full length to his left to palm the ball away.

City weathered the storm and saw out the remainder of the half without further cause for concern, Jones’ tackle on Simpson, which referee Ives deemed worthy of a yellow card, the only other incident of note.

If the half time whistle came as a welcome relief for City normal service was resumed immediately after the restart. As Worcester attacked menacingly down the right Davies played the ball into Middleton on the edge of the box, his first time shot appeared goal bound until a flying Davies appeared to brilliantly palm the ball up onto the bar, the alert Jack Wignall first to react and complete the clearance.

Despite this early scare City started to engage the Worcester midfield and press the game to a much greater extent than they had in the opening period.

On 50 minutes good work by Sturgess, impressive on the left hand side of midfield, and Simpson set up Niven who fired in a low dipping strike which McDonnell stopped but couldn’t hold, with Bloomfield in close attendance the former Halesowen stopper gathered the ball at the second attempt.

Immediately play switched to the other end. Worcester broke incisively down the left, Wilde instrumental in freeing Foy who found himself one on one with Davies on the left of the area. The City ‘keeper rushed the former Tamworth midfielder who shot tamely wide of the mark, this time however Worcester’s failure to convert their chances did not go unpunished. In City’s next attack Nightingale worked the ball forward in the direction of Simpson but as Carty came across from left back to cover there seemed little danger. Simpson however, showing great strength and commitment won the ball against the odds and created enough space to fire a shot at McDonnell which the keeper may have felt he should have held onto, the ball didn’t stick however, rolling out to the right where the quick witted Bloomfield whipped a first time shot back under the ‘keeper and into the left hand corner of the net, from being grateful to hang on at 0-0 City were suddenly 1-0 up.

Worcester’s response was immediate Middleton advanced menacingly down the left beat Wignall and fired goalwards only to be denied by Nightingale whose block sent the ball behind for a corner. Minutes later a Foy corner from the right picked out Webster whose rising shot on the turn forced Davies into a smart head height save.

Having held out in the immediate aftermath of taking the lead City began to consolidate, Wignall stuck to his task of containing Adam Wilde superbly and stifled much of the threat posed by Worcester on the left hand side. In the centre of the field Niven and Nightingale had much more influence than in the opening 45 minutes and the excellent Sturgess, despite playing narrow on the left kept Davies fully occupied and prevented him getting forward to support the visitors attack.

With 65 minutes gone City came close to doubling their lead. A good ball in from Niven picked out Bloomfield who had stolen into the box from his wide right berth. Beating Carty with a skilful drag-back he created room to shoot but his effort was smothered by McDonnell.

Two minutes later Gary Roberts made his first change introducing Leon Gutzmore in a straight swap for Kevin Wilkin. Within moments of coming on to the pitch Gutzmore was first to react to a Niven throw from the left, nodding the ball back for Danny Bloomfield who fired over.

In his search for an equaliser Worcester boss John Barton replaced Stewart Hadley with Mark Owen but as the game entered its final 15 minutes City were still looking to extend their lead. Sturgess played the ball into Simpson and the hard working youngster unleashed another shot which McDonnell was forced to block and parry away.