Worcester City 0 AFC Telford United 0.

WORCESTER City will get another opportunity to see off AFC Telford United on Tuesday when they travel to the New Bucks Head.

But City will feel aggrieved this FA Cup second qualifying round tie has not already been put to bed after drawing a blank yesterday.

Having struck 10 times in their previous three games, it is fair to say Worcester have not struggled to find the back of the net recently.

But on this occasion, their lack of ruthlessness in front of goal cost them victory at the Victoria Ground and kept Telford’s hopes alive.

Even Lee Hughes, who Worcester have been reliant on to get them out of trouble, failed to convert his opportunities.

The experienced striker could have bagged a hat-trick in a dominant first-half display, but this was not his day.

Unfortunately for City, this was James Montgomery’s time to shine as the goalkeeper often came to Telford’s rescue and his stunning stop at the death could prove to be a turning point.

With the match deep into stoppage-time, Colby Bishop looked set to be the hero for City when he fired a low shot towards the bottom corner.

But somehow the keeper, who was moving to his left, managed to get his right hand on to it to divert the ball onto the post.

Although the Blue and Whites did not secure their fourth win in a row, their confidence is unlikely to have been dented by this performance.

With Hughes looking to add to his goal tally and winger Chekaine Steele constantly probing down the right, City were proving difficult for Telford to handle.

It was only a finishing touch which was missing as Hughes headed wide Bishop’ lofted delivery to the back post before forcing a good save from Montgomery.

The striker’s best chance came on the half hour mark when Steele neatly slipped the ball through to him.

Almost everyone in the ground expected to the net to bulge, but an impressive finger-tip save from Montgomery kept the scores level.

With Steele and Bishop also going close in the opening period, Telford gained in confidence and had more of the ball after the break.

But Worcester remained resolute, with right-back Andy Gallinagh producing a superb last-ditch tackle to deny Connor McCarthy a chance on goal.

Telford’s new signing did get one shot on target, but Ryan Boot was equal to it as he continued his imperious form in City’s goal.

Sam Oji, replacing the suspended Graham Hutchison, also held firm along with centre-back partner Tom Sharpe to extend their run of clean sheets to three matches.

But crucially Worcester could not claim the all-important victory as Hughes and Steele both had efforts blocked before Bishop was thwarted in the dying seconds to leave the clash in the balance.