WORCESTER City stretched their unbeaten run to 13 games with an emphatic victory over Hyde.

Goals from Michael Taylor, half-time substitute Mike Symons and Tristan Dunkley gave Carl Heeley’s side their third consecutive 3-0 success and set them up for Sunday’s FA Cup second round clash at Scunthorpe United in style.

The Ewen Fields win lifted the Blue and Whites to eighth in Conference North and to within three points of the play-off zone.

It was also City’s second victory in 48 hours following the FA Trophy triumph over Barrow, for which their reward is a match against Conference high-fliers Halifax at Aggborough on Saturday, December 13.

But manager Heeley will be sweating on the fitness of Nathan Vaughan ahead of Sunday after the keeper injured his neck during the warm-up and was replaced by Jose Veiga for his first start since suffering a leg injury in October.

Taylor was handed his first start since returning to the club, while Dunkley was also back in the line-up.

Centre-half Wayne Thomas returned following suspension and linked up with Jacob Rowe as the pair replaced Graham Hutchison and Shabir Khan.

But George Williams and Daniel Nti didn’t travel to Manchester, with Connor Gater and Nick Wright coming into the team.

There was also no place in the squad for on-loan Walsall forward Jordan Murphy as City drafted in youngsters Jamie Smith and Dean Waldron on the bench.

The home side started well and could have won a penalty within 90 seconds after Josh Brizell was brought down by Thomas but the referee judged it to be nothing more than a tangle of legs.

City had the best chance in the early stages as Wright beat the offside trap down the right and saw his cross-shot cleared off the line by Matt Flynn.

Worcester took the lead in the 13th minute when Sean Geddes, Saturday’s two-goal hero, was brought down just outside the area. He then picked himself up to deliver a wonderful free-kick into the unmarked Taylor who sent a bullet header past Connor Hunt in the Hyde goal.

The Tigers had a glorious opportunity to grab an equaliser after Connor Hughes was brought down in the box by Thomas for a penalty.

City’s centre-half was booked but Hughes smashed the spot-kick against the post and out for a goal kick.

Worcester pressed for the last few minutes of the half and went close through Dunkley, who caused havoc throughout for Brizell, but the winger’s shot was saved brilliantly by Hunt.

The second-half began with more of the same from City, who passed the ball with style and made Hyde chase everything, but it needed Veiga to keep their lead intact.

Symons, a replacement for Taylor at the break, put the visitors further ahead with a sublime 65th-minute chip to leave Hunt stranded after beating the offside trap.

Dunkley continued to look threatening, twisting and turning past four Hyde players before scuffing his shot just wide.

But the winger got the goal he deserved, via a deflection from 25 yards, to seal the points with 16 minutes to go.

City: Veiga 9, Gater 6, Weir 6, Rowe, 6, Thomas 6, Jackman 6, Dunkley 9* (Smith 78), Deeney 7, Taylor 7 (Symons HT, 8), Geddes 5 (Waldron 78), Wright 7. Subs not used: Khan, Vaughan.

Attendance: 330.