SINCE the curtain came down on a sorry 2016/17 season it is fair to say Worcester City’s fans have had little reason to cheer.

They have seen their side plummet to the lower reaches of non-league football, suffered the disappointment of a planning refusal for a new ground in Perdiswell and are still fearful of what the future holds for their cash-strapped club.

But at Communications Park in Daventry the travelling supporters finally had something to celebrate in the shape of a victory in the FA Cup.

Worcester’s extra preliminary round win over 10-man Daventry Town thanks to Dave Reynolds’ first-half header might not get rid of the off-field problems.

But it at least gave a taste of what is to come from a new-look City side as they bid to put the smiles back on fans’ faces this season.

Apart from loyal full-back Tyler Weir, who decided to stay despite Worcester dropping three levels, joint managers Lee Hughes and John Snape had to work from a blank canvass this summer.

But piece by piece they have put together a group of players who showed battling qualities against Daventry which should stand them in good stead as they try to win the Midland League Premier Division title.

As first assignments go Daventry away was a tricky one for Worcester to overcome.

The Northamptonshire side have experienced joy in the competition having reached the first round proper in 2013.

And they tried to make life as uncomfortable as possible for the visitors.

But with Nathan Hayward and Brad Birch in central midfield City remained on top in what was a scrappy and often heated encounter.

The Worcester-born duo have waited a long time to pull on the blue and white shirt and they imposed themselves with tough tackling and some neat touches.

City have also got a striker in Reynolds who knows where the goal is having struck 53 times for Malvern Town last season and he scored the crucial goal on 38 minutes.

Jamie Smith provided the cross for the forward who was in the right place at the right time to nod home from close range.

Daventry also had chances to get off the mark in the first half.

Paul Dearle twice missed the target after being found at the back post from corners.

After the break City had Aaron Griffiths to thank as he pulled off a superb last-ditch block to deny Kieran Fitzgerald.

At the other end Ant O’Connor was giving his side hope as he did well to tip over Shab Khan’s header before stopping Hughes’ shot moments later.

But Reynolds was guilty of missing a golden opportunity on 71 minutes as he rounded O’Connor before blazing his shot over the bar.

Riko Alexander then almost made Reynolds pay as he broke into the box before seeing his thumping strike palmed away by Gwynne.

In a match littered with yellow cards Dearle was sent off in the closing stages for a second bookable offence for bringing down James Baldwin.

Hughes was disallowed two goals late on with the first chalked off after the ball was judged to have gone out of play before Birch cut it back for him.

But City’s joint boss will be delighted to start the campaign with a win, setting up a home preliminary round tie against Chasetown on Saturday, August 19.