WAYNE Thomas scored his first goal of the season as Worcester City won for the first time in 2015 by beating Oxford City 1-0 at Aggborough.

The veteran centre-half capped a man-of-the-match display with a measured finish on the hour following Sean Geddes' corner.

Victory, in front of City's second lowest gate of the season, saw Carl Heeley's side leapfrog their opponents into 11th place in the Conference North table.

But despite Thomas' presence at both ends of the pitch, Worcester owed much to the second-half arrival of Tristian Dunkley.

The tricky forward replaced new signing Aaron Brown five minutes after the break and woke Carl Heeley's side from their slumber.

By the end, a dreadful first-half had been forgotten as Worcester made it four points in three days following Saturday's 2-2 draw against Hednesford Town.

With Nathan Vaughan unavailable through work commitments, Jose Veiga returned in goal, while Danny Jackman was not part of the squad and replaced by Shabir Khan at left-back.

The first 20 minutes were desperately poor with neither side able to fashion anything approaching a chance.

The passing from both teams lacked accuracy and possession was squandered cheaply.

Not until Shabir had bundled Declan Benjamin to the turf just outside the box did the game proffer an opening and Tom Winters' free-kick was easily saved by Veiga.

City's first moment of note fell to Brown but his wayward shot from just inside the box was deflected further wide.

Brown went closer before the break, accepting Geddes' pass and chipping keeper Salva De La Cruz but Paul Stonehouse cleared the danger inside the six-yard box.

Then came City's best chance of the half. Brown went down under the challenge of Stonehouse in the box but referee Simon Barrow wasn't interested in the penalty appeals. However, the ball stayed alive and eventually fell to Mike Symons who turned and fired agonisingly wide.

Worcester finished the half in the ascendancy and continued in the same vein after thr break.

Symons, playing against his former side, smartly wriggled free of his marker before having an effort tipped over by De La Cruz.

Still on the up, the hosts broke the deadlock on the hour. Geddes' corner eventually found its way out to Thomas on the far side of the box and the centre-half guided the ball back across the keeper and into the far corner.

Buoyed, City went for the jugular and Daniel Nti's attempted lob landed on the roof of the net.

Substitutes Felipe Barcelos and Anders Del Alamo gave the visitors some impetus and briefly Worcester's lead looked precarious.

But they dealt with the threat and continued to hit Oxford the break, with Dunkley the chief menace.

Shabir was also forced off with eight minutes to go, the defender left hobbling after a collision with Dunkley going for the same ball.

Worcester City: Veiga 8, Haynes 7, Shabir 7 (Gudger 82), Hutchison 8, Thomas 8*, Brown 6 (Dunkley 50, 8), Nti 7, Deeney 6, Symons 7, Geddes 7 (Waldron 70, 6), Gater 6. Subs not used: Rowe, Collins.

Attendance: 392.