WORCESTER City staged a thrilling fightback against their Midlands rivals but it wasn’t enough to stop Tamworth from claiming all three points in an action-packed 2-1 win at Aggborough.

Ryan Rowe’s second goal in as many games came too late to rescue City at the end of a game that saw both sides forced into first-half changes following a horrendous clash of heads.

It was the home side who carved open the first chance of the game on seven minutes when an Ellis Deeney corner was missed by Lambs’ keeper James Belshaw and the young City defender was inches away from turning the ball in at the far post.

But from then on it was the visitors who dominated the half. Danny Newton pounced on some sloppy defending only to be denied by a timely Tyler Weir challenge before an acrobatic effort from Shane Clarke flew wide of Nathan Vaughan’s goal.

The breakthrough came on 21 minutes when a long-range pass from Strong was flicked on by Newton for Clarke who sent a fine looping volley over the Worcester keeper from 20 yards.

Two minutes later the visitors were 2-0 ahead. Morris lost the ball on the edge of his own area and although he recovered to dispossess Newton, he steered the ball straight into the path of Elliott Durrell who fired home from 15 yards.

City abandoned their back three for a 4-4-2 line-up but were forced to change things again when a clash saw both Weir and Tamworth’s Strong forced off with blood pouring from their heads.

Injury-time saw the home side finally manage their first shot on target when Deeney fired a free-kick at keeper James Belshaw with Sean Geddes testing the shot-stopper with a tame effort moments later.

After such a disappointing opening period, Worcester looked stronger in the second half.

Deeney began to control midfield, while Dan Nti began to torment Tamworth’s stand-in left-back Paul Green.

Solid defending was keeping them at bay but midway through the half, a long throw was helped on to Vincent but the substitute’s shot from eight yards lacked sufficient power.

With 20 minutes to go, City made their final change and the arrival of on loan striker Jamie Spencer ensured it was a three-pronged attack alongside Vincent and Ryan Rowe.

Worcester continued to press and they got their reward four minutes later when a brilliant cross from Nti picked out Rowe who controlled the ball and drilled it past Belshaw from six yards.

With the game in injury time, there was almost a repeat from City, Nti’s cross this time finding Spencer but his first time shot was kept out by the Tamworth keeper.

City: Vaughan 6, Weir 7 (Vincent 42, 6), Campion 7, Morris 5 (Gater 33, 6), McDonald 6, Gudger 8, Nti 7, Deeney 7, Rowe 6, Geddes 6, Nash 6 (Spencer 72, 6).