STRIKER Ethan Moore marked his shock return to Worcester City with the only goal in a hard-fought pre-season victory against Evesham United.

Moore's inclusion, just days after the club had announced the former Aston Villa youth-team forward's departure, citing a lack of commitment, left fans bemused at the Jubilee Stadium.

Yet Moore seized his opportunity to try and earn a deal at City with a well-taken goal a minute before the break.

It was the highlight of a largely dull first-half in which both sides looked lethargic in the evening summer sun and struggled to create chances.

City, though, started to turn the screw and new central defender Richard Munday glanced a header wide from Tom Thorley's left wing cross.

Right-back George Williams, on one of his many forays forward, also planted a curling effort with the outside of his right boot inches over the bar.

Evesham saved their best until five minutes before the break when, after Graham Hutchison had hauled down Lindon Dovey, Mitchell Botfield crashed a free-kick off the bar with trialist keeper Deale Chamberlain beaten.

But it was City who took the lead on 44 minutes when Thorley's raking pass down the middle sent Daniel Nti scampering away with fellow trialist Moore and the latter despatched the ball beyond John Bateman.

Nti went close with a free-kick at the start of the second-half, before Aaron Williams failed to convert at the far post after sub Danny Williams had placed a shot off target.

At the other end, Munday was forced to clear the ball off the line when replacement keeper Matt Sargeant made a mess of attempting to punch away Marcus Jackson's floated free-kick.

Sargeant made amends seconds later by parrying Marcus Palmer's drive for a corner.

Evesham began to grow in stature following a spate of substitutions and Carl Brown had an effort deflected wide from close range.

Brown then had a shot saved by Sargeant before later racing forward, under pressure from sub Ashley Walker, and agonisingly prodding the ball the wrong side of the post.

Worcester continued to be second best and keeper Bateman had very little to do for the Robins.

City: Chamberlain (Sargeant HT), G Williams, Deeney (Flanagan HT), Thorley, Hutchison, Munday (Walker 56), Moore (D Williams HT), Turner, Nti, Glover, A Williams (Nelson). Sub not used: Shabir.

Evesham United: Bateman, Jackson, Wilson, Richards (Rhodes HT), Sysum, Botfield, Brown, Barnfield (Gould 80), Palmer (John 62), Dovey, Tambling (Rodrigues 62). Subs not used: Clarke, McGee.