JOINT-manager Lee Hughes insisted the team spirit in the dressing room after Worcester City’s 1-0 win at Daventry Town in the FA Cup was “one of the best” he had experienced in a “long time”.

Dave Reynolds’ first-half header was enough to beat 10-man Daventry in a fiercely-fought extra preliminary round tie at Communications Park.

Hughes admitted it would “take time” for his players to gel after putting together a “brand new” team this summer but he was delighted with what he saw.

“It was a good battle out there,” said Hughes who shares the managerial duties with John Snape.

“But the lads worked their socks off and we deserved the win.

“The desire and the work-rate was second to none and the team spirit in the dressing room afterwards was one of the best I have seen in a long time.

“To get off the mark with a win was what we needed so we can push on now.”

Reynolds broke the deadlock on 38 minutes when he headed home Jamie Smith’s cross from close range.

Both sides continued to create opportunities with Reynolds firing over after rounding goalkeeper Ant O’Connor before City stopper Matt Gwynne saved Riko Alexander’s effort late on.

Paul Dearle was then sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the closing moments as City secured a home clash against Chasetown in the preliminary round on Saturday, August 19.

“We had a few chances as I should have scored in the first half and I had one disallowed in the second half,” Hughes continued.

“But we are through to the next round and it was a decent performance.

“We knew Daventry were going to work hard and it was going to be a tough game but the lads showed we can compete which was the main thing.

“It’s a brand-new team so it’s going to take time for it to gel.

“We could have got the ball down and played a bit more than we did but it was a first game and we did the job we had to do and got the 1-0 win.

“We would have liked more considering the chances we created but we will take it.”

Hughes highlighted several individual performances, including central midfield pairing Nathan Hayward and Brad Birch who he described as City’s “engines”.

“Nath and Birchy in the middle worked their socks off,” Hughes said.

“They were like engines out there and Birls (Matt Birley) had quality on the ball.

“Jamie Smith won a lot in the air and put a decent ball in for Reyno to score with a good header.

“You are always going to get a few chances against you but it’s how you deal with it and Gwynny did well again for us like he has done in pre-season.”

Worcester will kick off their Midland League Premier Division campaign on Saturday when they host Heanor Town (3pm).