TWO goals in the opening nine minutes fired Worcester City to a dominant league win over Hereford Pegasus at Claines Lane on Tuesday night.

Kyle Belmonte's curled effort and Liam Lockett's composed finish had Chris Cornes' men 2-0 up in what was a rampant start.

The hosts had numerous chances to add to their lead but saw their advantage halved against the run of play in the 70th minute when Cawley Cox slotted past Haydn Whitcombe on the counter-attack.

But City would not be denied as Elliot Hartley's header ten minutes from time secured a well-deserved three points for the hosts, who moved up to second place in the Hellenic League Premier as a result.

Following the dramatic penalty shootout win at the weekend, City were looking for a more comfortable evening on Tuesday and they made the best possible start when Belmonte curled home from the edge of the box after a short corner over on the left. 

The hosts were clearly in the mood for goals and they had a second in the ninth minute when Lockett's one-two with Belmonte saw the latter play the winger in behind the Pegasus defence for him to coolly slot home past James Behan. 

Striker Dylan Hart had a number of chances to add to the lead in the first-half but he was twice denied by Behan in the Pegasus goal as City went in 2-0 up at the break. 

City were dominating and continued to search for that crucial third goal after the restart but Behan made some brilliant saves from Hartley and Robbie Thompson-Brown to keep his side in the game.

As frustration grew at the hosts' inability to finish the game off, there was a growing sense that Pegasus might just knick something from the game.

And those fears were multiplied in the 70th minute when Cox raced away from the City defence to tuck home past Whitcombe and make it 2-1.

Behan was in inspired form and he made a terrific fingertip save to push a fizzing Belmonte effort onto the bar as the hosts looked to re-establish their two-goal cushion.

But their search for the killer third goal finally came in the 80th minute as substitute Izak Reid's chip into the box was brilliantly headed home by a leaping Hartley.

They made slightly hard work of it at times but it was a deserved three points for Worcester, who now move second in the Hellenic League Premier table.