IT MAY have only been the first weekend in August, but Worcester City started out on the Emirates FA Cup trail with an Extra Preliminary Round tie at Daventry Town.
The home side started the game with purpose as they looked to stamp their authority on proceedings, but City worked hard to keep them at bay.
It was something of a scrappy, stop-start affair but as the opening period went on City, started to get a foothold in the game and we took the lead on 38 minutes when Jamie Smith did well out wide before delivering an inviting cross that was met by Dave Reynolds who opened his scoring account for the club.
The home side looked to hit back straight away, however, Paul Dearle was guilty of missing a couple of good openings.
The start of the second period saw City have to soak up more pressure with Aaron Griffiths doing well to deny Kieran Fitzgerald.
There was a chance for Shab Khan at the other end as his looping header was pushed over by the home ‘keeper who then had to be alert moments later to thwart Lee Hughes.
Reynolds could have made the game safe with less than 20 minutes to go when he took the ball around the advancing ‘keeper before firing over.
As the home side searched for a leveller to take the game to a replay, Matt Gwynne did well to save from Riko Alexander.
There was late drama when Dearle was sent off for the hosts for a second yellow card before Hughes had two late efforts ruled out.
In the end, we held on to set up a home tie with Chasetown in the next round on August 19th.

CITY: Gwynne; Weir, Khan, M Smith, Griffiths; Birley, Birch, Hayward, J Smith; Reynolds, Hughes. Subs: Danks, Dayus, Baldwin, Fishwick, Brett, Yeomans, Harris-James.