WORCESTER City weathered a late onslaught from hosts Bradford Park Avenue to earn a victory from their final Vanarama Conference North away game of the season.

At a sun drenched Horsfall Stadium, the game had the feel of a pre-season friendly but manager Carl Heeley had his men focused.

They wanted to ensure a three-point maximum to avenge a 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in January and, thanks to keeper Jose Veiga making some excellent late saves, they managed it.

Bradford had the majority of possession in the early stages of the first-half but despite that Veiga was a virtual spectator. He was claiming crosses but the home side never really tested him.

City created their first opening in the 10th minute when Tyler Weir broke down the left flank and his low centre was played back to Mike Symons but as he shaped to shoot, an Avenue defender’s foot intervened.

Worcester still had to use all of their guile in that early period as the home side pressed forward. Veiga was not troubled by a 16th minute shot from Avenue midfielder Luke Dean but a minute later he was relieved when a Joe Colbeck free-kick came back off his crossbar.

Midway through the first-half Daniel Nti was lurking at the corner of the six-yard box but his shot on the turn was over the target.

A cheep free-kick midway inside the Bradford half soon after proved to be the crucial point in the game.

Jay Denny and Sean Geddes stood over the set-piece on the left hand side before Denny peeled away. Geddes hit the defensive wall with his delivery, Anthony Charles’ shot from the rebound was blocked but Denny pounced on the loose ball and drilled a shot past home keeper John Danby from the edge of the area.

Geddes and Symons had goal-bound shots blocked in the same 34th minute attack but the home side were soon threatening again.

City had to defend a later free-kick and Veiga had to be quick off his line towards the end of the first-half but they came out with renewed vigour for the start of the second period.

A free-kick from Worcester skipper Ellis Deeney was punched out by Danby only as far as Geddes but he fired over from the edge of the area.

The home side began to gain the upper hand but the blue and whites reverted to the guile they had shown earlier to take the sting out of the game.

Weir lost his discipline after being shoved to the ground by Avenue’s Craig King following a tetchy spat between the pair.

Heeley made the wise choice to substitute him and two more changes followed to run the clock down and the points were made safe by two late saves from Veiga.