The Ricoh Arena was stunned as two goals from Sean Geddes helped City knock the 1987 FA Cup winners out of the competition, in what Carl Heeley described as one of the greatest moments in the clubs history.

City’s dominant first half performance was rewarded five minutes before the break after goalkeeper Lee Burge was dismissed for petulantly lashing out at Daniel Nti inside the area. Sean Geddes coolly dispatched his spot kick, with Nathan Vaughan adding to City’s first half heroics after he saved Reda Johnson’s first half injury time spot kick just minutes later.

Sean Geddes’s low drive from the edge of the area on 55 minutes gave Worcester breathing space, only for Reda Johnson to set up a nerve-jangling finale after he thundered home a diving header with just nine minutes remaining.

But City clung on to secure a famous win against a side 65 places above them, and a place in the second round for the first time since 2005.

The game started with City, roared on by a raucous 3200 strong following, nearly taking the lead after Daniel Nti’s ambitious snapshot from distance nearly caught Lee Burge off guard, but bounced just wide of the target after just 15 seconds.

And it was Worcester who continued to dominate the opening stages, coming close again as Danny Jackman’s 10th minute corner was bundled awkwardly over the bar by Coventry’s Aaron Martin, before Nti flashed a header wide from the resulting set piece.

City’s incisive football continued to frustrate the hosts, who struggled to get hold of the ball, and they had Lee Burge to thank after Graham Hutchinson’s pinpoint cross field pass found Tyler Weir, who jinked inside before seeing his deflected shot well held by the Coventry stopper.

Coventry failed to force Nathan Vaughan into action until the 25th minute mark when the City stopper was on hand to claim Adam Barton’s glanced header goal-wards from Jim O’Brien’s whipped free kick. With Simeon Jackson lurking, any spillages could have been costly for the Blue and Whites.

And, with half an hour gone, City continued to pepper Burges goal. And after Daniel Nti’s shot from the angle of the area was deflected, Geddes came close again just minutes later after he thundered a header that flashed over the bar from Jordan Murphy’s inviting cross.

But City’s incredible first half performance was rewarded after they were gifted a penalty and a huge advantage just five minutes before half time when Lee Burge was dismissed for petulantly kicking out at Daniel Nti inside the penalty after a coming together with the City striker as he claimed a Jordan Murphy cross.

After a break whilst Coventry organised their replacement keeper, Sean Geddes stepped up to coolly send substitute goalkeeper Ryan Allsop the wrong way, sending the visiting supporters into raptures just three minutes before half time. Advantage City.

But the first half action wasn’t over, after the Sky Blues were awarded a penalty when Graham Hutchinson was adjudged to have brought down James Maddison deep into injury time. Nathan Vaughan added to City’s heroics, diving low to his right to prevent Reda Johnson levelling the score to take City into a half time lead.

City’s first half dominance continued into the second half as the side refused to sit back on the narrow lead and ten minutes in, it was 2-0. Sean Geddes grabbed hold of the ball on the edge of the area and drove a shot that arrowed into the bottom corner in front of the ecstatic travelling fans to double the lead.

It was nearly three after Jordan Murphy teed Nick Wright, whose shot deflected agonisingly wide of the top corner after 67 minutes.

City were playing with their tails up, whilst Coventry were in disarray.

The floundering hosts did their best to try to force a way back into the game, with a clever quick free kick freeing James Maddison inside the area, only for Nathan Vaughan to beat his shot clear.

Substitute Tristan Dunkley’s blistering pace caused the Sky Blues problems, and when his cut back found Ellis Deeney on the edge of the area with 10 minutes remaining, the City captain lashed his shot wide of the mark.

City’s comfortable two goal cushion was halved with just nine minutes remaining. Coventry were awarded a free kick deep into the City half and Maddison’s free kick from the left was met by a thundering diving header by the towering figure of Reda Johnson to set up a nerve-jangling finale.

Coventry nearly snatched a late leveller, as Aaron Martin’s low drive from the edge of the area flashed wide of the near post with just three minutes of normal time remaining.

But City survived a mammoth seven minutes of injury time & nearly added a third as Tristan Dunkley broke from the half way line. He drove through into the box before passing to Nick Wright, whose shot was saved. Coventry tried to force a final move but they ran out of time and City secured a famous win to set up a place in the second round for the first time since 2005.

A delighted Carl Heeley thought that his side thoroughly deserved the victory.

“I’m a proud, proud man. I’m proud of my players, all of the staff; all of those fabulous supporters who travelled in their numbers today. They gave us a huge, huge lift. To those fans who stayed with us when they could have walked away when we lost our ground, to the lads in the Trust who have defied all the odds to produce a new ground plan worthy of any City, it’s all for them”, said Heeley.

“With the week I’ve had, after the birth of my third daughter, if I could have wrote the fairy tale, that would have been the end today.

“It’s one of the greatest moments in the club’s history”, added the City boss.

Attendance: 8439 (3220 visitors)