Two wins on the spin

City kicked-off their JPL League campaign with a victory and a second win on the bounce as they continue to move in the right direction with a 4-3 triumph at Birmingham City Community.

The winning margin probably could and should have been greater but City are now really beginning to gel and can be delighted with a hard-working performance in which they created numerous chances.

The visitors began the game in windy conditions on a decent 3G surface perfectly as they took the lead within a couple of minutes of the first whistle as Matt Athey's rampaging run from full-back was ended with a trip in the box. Harry Stone coolly rolled the resultant penalty kick into the bottom corner.

However midway through the quarter, City found themselves behind after conceding two goals in quick succession.

Firstly a foul was given away in a dangerous position on the edge of the box, which resulted in a superb free-kick being struck into the top corner. Within moments, the hosts went into the lead when City failed to deal with a corner and the second ball was whipped to the back post to be headed in.

Worcester managed to steady the ship and, by the first break, probably could have been in front as they worked a number of promising openings. Will Cottell and Jamie Neath combined well down the right, with the latter forcing the keeper to save for a corner. Cottell then went on a marauding run to deliver a delightful cross from the byline that just eluded his onrushing team-mates.

The quarter ended with the industrious Stone feeding Guy Collett, whose shot went narrowly wide.

Collett's next chance at the end of the second quarter ended up in the net as he cleverly worked himself some space and unleashed a terrific strike from 25 yards - a just reward for his dominant performance in midfield throughout the game.

Hesitant defending at the start of Q3 nearly resulted in Birmingham regaining the lead though but they were foiled by an excellent point blank save by Christian Carter, who was well-protected by his defence throughout the second-half of the contest.

This narrow escape seemingly spurred City on and they quickly gained momentum - forcing the home keeper into several saves. He grasped a Neath strike at the second attempt just as the striker looked set to pounce on the rebound before he spectacularly tipped over a superb free-kick from Stone. He then did well to save from Cottell at his near-post after he was put through by Harry Rebbeck.

Neath hit the post as the quarter ended but his luck turned in the 4th when he got the goal that his efforts deserved as he lobbed the keeper after good inter-play with Rebbeck, who turned provider again shortly afterwards, when he cut back from the byline for Athey to roll home.

Birmingham pulled back a consolation as the game reached its dying embers - the disappointment of conceding from another corner swiftly turning to delight as the referee blew his whistle on a deserved win for City.