MIKE Symons returned from a month on the sidelines to ensure Worcester City go into their biggest week for nearly a decade on a positive note.

Carl Heeley’s side recovered from a nightmare start at the New Windmill Ground, when former Worcester winger Matt Dodd scored two penalties in 12 minutes, to emerge with a deserved point.

On-loan Walsall forward Jordan Murphy threw City a lifeline with six minutes left in the first period before second-half substitute Symons pounced in the penultimate minute of the contest.

The striker, who has been out since the beginning of October with an ankle injury, arrived at the far post to head home George Williams’ inviting right-wing cross.

It was no less than the visitors merited for a spirited performance and they might even have left with all three points but for some poor finishing in the closing stages, chiefly by Daniel Nti.

Worcester are unbeaten in eight matches and can look forward to Sunday’s FA Cup first-round clash at Coventry City with confidence.

The Blue and Whites’ first match at this stage since 2005 has been the subject of conversation both in the pubs and on social media since the draw was made last Monday.

It certainly played on the team’s mind in the opening stages against Leamington with uncharacteristic errors blighting their performance.

A sloppy back pass after just 14 minutes left Nathan Vaughan exposed and he hauled down Brakes striker Stefan Moore.

Controversially, Vaughan escaped with only a booking with referee Andy Hendley perhaps swayed by Moore’s momentum taking him away from goal.

Although a red card would not have ruled Vaughan out of the cup clash as suspensions in Conference North are delayed by two weeks,City again had no replacement keeper available.

Divisional player-of-the-month Wayne Thomas, back on the bench with Graham Hutchison restored to the side, could have been forgiven for thinking his services would be required again.

Dodd, at City in the Richard Dryden era, sent Vaughan the wrong way from the spot.

Although the keeper guessed right with the second 12 minutes later, after Jacob Rowe felled the winger, Dodd beat him again.

But if the Brakes were out for revenge following their FA Cup exit at the hands of Worcester, it didn’t show.

Paul Holleran’s men offered little else in attack and when Murphy converted a loose ball after his initial effort looped over on-loan Derby keeper Matts Morch and came back off the bar, Worcester wrestled control.

City dominated the second period with their trademark passing game and looked as though they would leave empty-handed until Symons popped up.

Now for Coventry.