BIRTHDAY boy Nathan Vaughan admits he was given a surprise present ahead of Worcester City’s Friday night match at FC United – a place in the starting line-up.

And the 34-year-old didn’t disappoint, keeping a clean sheet as his side secured a 2-0 win despite being reduced to ten men before half-time.

Vaughan and recent signing James Severn have been sharing the goalkeeping duties of late but the former Evesham and Kidderminster shot-stopper evidently did enough in the midweek defeat of Holbeach to retain his place.

Vaughan said: “I didn’t know I was going to be playing.

I played in the week and, if I’m honest, I thought Sev [James Severn] was playing so I’m just glad I was given the opportunity and I thought I played alright.

“Hopefully I’ll be given the shirt again next week [at Solihull Moors], have a good game and get us into the next round of the FA Cup.

“The keepers we have at this club would probably walk into any other team in this league. You have to be on your toes.

“This is a very tough league and if you don’t perform in any particular game then the likelihood is that you’re going to be out and that keeps pushing us to play well which has to be good for the club.

“All I can do is my best, keep training hard and hope to be selected.”

A first-half strike from Lee Hughes gave City the advantage at FC United’s impressive Broadhurst Park although the striker’s red card just before the break meant a different game plan for the remainder of the game.

Some excellent defending kept the home side at bay though and Tristian Dunkley wrapped up the points with a breakaway goal in the dying minutes.

Vaughan added: “We knew it was going to be tough.

“They [FC United] are a good club and want to be pushing to get out of this league.

“The supporters have a lot of passion for the team and there was a great atmosphere.

"But the boys defended well.”