TEENAGE striker Andre Brown opened his Worcester City account with a late winner against promotion hopefuls Boston United.

And the goal ensured the Blue and Whites climbed out of the drop zone and ended a torrid run of three straight Vanarama National League North defeats.

City could not have wished for a better start, penning the visitors in their own half for much of the first half-hour.

On five minutes, a storming run from Ellis Deeney took him to the edge of the area before feeding Brown, whose shot was blocked by defender Scott Garner.

Two minutes later, Ashley Vincent had the ball in the back of the Boston net only for the effort to be chalked off for offside.

Dayle Southwell had a rare chance for the Pilgrims soon after but only managed to steer a tame shot at City keeper Ethan Ross, who was making his home debut.

The breakthrough came on 11 minutes. Deeney rolled a free-kick to Jamie Smith 25 yards from goal and he guided the ball into the top left-hand corner, giving Boston keeper Henrich Ravas no chance.

Midway through the half, Worcester almost doubled their advantage when Deeney sent Dan Nti in behind the visitors’ defence only for Ravas to deny him with his defence then clearing the danger.

With half-time looming, both sides went close to finding the net.

It was Boston who threatened first when a quick Grant Roberts free-kick picked out the run of John Sands but he steered the ball wide of the goal at full stretch and under pressure from City’s Alex Gudger.

Moments later, Nti went even closer at the other end with a fine scissor kick that crashed against the upright with Vincent volleying the rebound wide of the target.

The visitors levelled six minutes after the restart and it came from a City mistake.

Vincent let the ball run in midfield but straight to Roberts, who threaded a neat pass into the path of Southwell and he calmly slotted home.

Three minutes later, Southwell was denied a second by Ross, who pushed his free-kick over the crossbar.

But Worcester weathered the storm and should have taken the lead just shy of the hour mark when Tyler Weir’s deep cross found Nti unmarked but he directed his header straight at Ravas.

On 63 minutes it was 2-1 to the hosts. Deeney and Nti combined to get the ball to Vincent on the right flank and his low cross was turned home by Brown from in front of goal.

Smith was carried off midway through the half with what looked a bad ankle injury following a late challenge from Zak Mills but City still looked the stronger side until a late onslaught when keeper Ross had to palm away a Carl Piergianni header in injury-time.

City: Ross 6, Minihan 7, Weir 6, Gudger 6, Sharpe 6, Jackman 7, Nti 8, DEENEY 8, Brown 6 (Morris 90), Vincent 7 (Harrad 84), Smith 6 (Dunkley 73). Sub not used: Gater.

Boston: Ravas, Mills, McEvoy (Simmons 74), Richards, Garner, Piergianni, Roberts, Sands (Felix 62), Southwell, Robbins, Blinco (Dixon 62). Subs not used: Marrs, Johnson.

Referee: Simon Barrow.

Attendance: 307.