Early strikes set up fifth straight win for Worcester City U15s

Two early goals proved decisive as City and Paget Rangers played out a competitive clash that went the way of the hosts by 3-1.

Fired up from the first whistle, the home side went in front within a minute of the kick-off as Will Cottell slalomed down the left hand side and slotted across the keeper onto the post, where the lurking Charlie Grubb tapped the rebound over the line.

Grubb was then involved with the second goal when his header from the centre circle sent Jesse Asomugha sprinting clear and he tucked away City's second.

Paget came out fighting in the second quarter and nearly caught their hosts napping as they countered quickly down the pitch from a corner to force a save from Josh Reed-Jones.

Another rampaging break down the right then created a glorious chance to pull a goal back but the unmarked Paget player skewed his effort off-target.

The City goal was leading a charmed life and, from the resulting melee from a free-kick, the visitors hit the bar and the post within the space of a few seconds before the defence was finally able to clear.

As the game became stretched, both sides had opportunities to score in Q3.

Paget were foiled by an Alex Fenn goal-line clearance and a Reed-Jones fingertip onto the upright. At the other end, Asomugha was kept off the scoresheet by the keeper and a brilliant defensive block before he shot over from an excellent Cottell cross and then pounced on a misplaced Rangers goal-kick but was unable to convert.

City did find the net eventually as Will Sankey ran unchallenged onto a Grubb corner to direct into the bottom corner.

The hosts will be disappointed not to have kept a clean sheet when they themselves failed to mark at a set-piece - a Paget player meeting a free-kick in acres of space deep into the final quarter. However they held firm to secure a five successive win.