WORCESTER City’s wretched run of red cards continued with defender Clayton McDonald being sent off in the first-half of their 3-0 Vanarama National League North defeat at Midlands rivals Solihull.

The giant central defender picked up two first-half bookings to leave City to play nearly an hour with ten men.

It was the third time in four games that Worcester have had a man sent off with defender Kieron Morris and winger Ashley Vincent already facing suspensions.

The home side had dominated the game even before McDonald saw red with City keeper Nathan Vaughan forced into a number of excellent saves.

On three minutes Akwasi Asante fired over after Stefan Moore had been denied in front of goal by Sam Minihan who was making his debut for the visitors.

The impressive Darryl Knights then hit the post from 20 yards before Vaughan pulled off an outstanding one-handed save to keep out a point-blank Knights' shot.

The City shot-stopper parried a long-range Ryan Beswick effort before the Moors finally found the net on 33 minutes only for goalscorer Asante to be flagged offside.

But it was only a matter of time before Solihull opened the scoring and it came from the penalty spot on 35 minutes. McDonald stopped a Stefan Moore shot with his arm, earning him his second booking, and Moore made no mistake with the resultant kick.

Three minutes later Knights doubled the lead with a rasping shot at the far post after the visiting defence failed to deal with a long throw-in.

City substitute Rob Elvins was sent on to bolster the back-four just before the break but moments later Vaughan needed to pull off another brilliant save, this time to keep out another point-blank Knights shot.

Saturday saw the ten men of City come from behind against Lowestoft but that never looked like being the case in this one as the Moors continued to dominate.

On 53 minutes Vaughan was again called on to push a Beswick effort over the bar with the same player then having another shot blocked by Elvins in front of goal.

Jack Byrne looked certain to add a third on 63 minutes, latching on to a Knights pass only to steer his shot the wrong side of the far post.

But after weathering the storm, City finally began to keep hold of the ball helped by the introduction of second substitute Jamie Spencer.

It was the on-loan Kidderminster Harriers striker who went close 13 minutes from time when he raced through and appeared to be hauled down by Moors defender Theo Streete only for the referee to wave away the penalty shout.

The closing stages saw Knights twice denied by Vaughan who was finally beaten eight minutes from time when Knights fired home the loose ball after the City keeper had parried an Asante effort.

City: Vaughan 8, Minihan 6 (Elvins 43, 7), Campion 6, Gudger 6, McDonald 4, Nash 7, Nti 6 (Vincent 83, 5), Deeney 6, Rowe 5 (Spencer 58, 5), Geddes 7, Gater 7. Subs (not used): Jackman, Lloyd-Weston.