A BRACE from Lee Hughes and a stunning free-kick from Dan Nti secured Worcester City a much-needed 3-1 win over Bradford Park Avenue at Aggborough tonight.

Prior to this game, City had not tasted victory since February 23 and were slipping closer towards the National League North drop zone.

But Worcester eased their relegation worries thanks to an impressive opening period, which was rounded off with a delightful lob from Hughes.

Nti was also one of the stars of the show as his 25-yard free-kick set up the win, which saw them climb four places to 14th and five points clear of the bottom three.

Having not won in more than a month, the pressure was on City to deliver three valuable points.

But Worcester did not shy away from the challenge as they pressed from the off and opened the scoring on nine minutes.

Avenue defender Joe Wilkinson was left bamboozled by a booming kick upfield from keeper Nathan Vaughan and Hughes was on hand to hammer the ball home.

Despite the early goal, City’s back four, which featured young centre-back Kieran Morris who came in for the injured Tom Sharpe, did not look settled.

And the visitors levelled on 22 minutes when a long throw fell to Chib Chilaka, who found the back of the net with an acrobatic volley.

Avenue should have added a second five minutes later as Darren Thornton headed the ball into the path of Chilaka.

But, with only Vaughan to beat from six yards out, the striker somehow missed the ball.

It was a huge let-off for City and a big turning point as Nti then produced a piece of brilliance.

The winger managed to squeeze the ball past Ryan Jones with a free-kick on the half-hour mark.

Thornton forced Vaughan into a good save with a free-kick before Worcester opened up a 3-1 lead courtesy of a stunning move involving Deon Burton and Hughes.

In first-half injury-time, former Derby County striker Burton lofted the ball in behind Avenue’s defence before fellow 39-year-old Hughes left Jones standing with a perfectly-weighted lob.

The goal gave City a boost but it also triggered a response from Avenue as Chilaka stung the hands of Vaughan with a powerful strike at the start of the second period.

With City regularly giving away free-kicks in dangerous positions, the away side had plenty of opportunities to cut back the deficit.

But they could not make the most of them as Chilaka twice missed the target with close-range headers.

Chances were at a premium in the second period for City with Hughes going closest with a curling effort from 25 yards that went narrowly over.

But, most importantly for joint-managers Carl Heeley and Matt Gardiner, their side held firm as Vaughan denied Chilaka and Luke Dean late on.

City (4-3-3): Vaughan 7; Minihan 7, Gudger 6, Morris 6, Weir 6; Jackman 6, Gater 7, Nti 7; Burton 6 (Murphy 55, 7), HUGHES 8, Perry 6. Subs not used: McDonald, Ross, Webb, L Donnellan.

Bradford (5-3-2): Jones; Scott (Schofield 71), Wilkinson, Qualter, Ainge, Thornton (Colley 77); Dean, King, Mottley-Henry; Chilaka, Dickenson. Subs not used: Patterson, Marshall, Gordon.

Attendance: 434.