WORCESTER City made it three Midland League Premier Division games unbeaten after they stormed to a 2-0 victory at struggling Rocester.

Lee Hughes put the visitors in front early on before Alex Tomkinson made the points safe when he smashed home in the last minute of a cagey affair between the two sides.

Worcester boss John Snape praised his team’s performance and work ethic after what he felt could have been a bit of a ‘banana skin’.

“I am very happy with the result,” he said. “I wouldn’t say we were thin on the ground but we drafted a few of the younger lads in and they did the job.

“It was a tricky pitch but we dealt with it quite well. We were guilty of missing a couple of chances and our keeper made some good saves but we worked hard.

“We had some scary moments but we stood firm and got our just rewards in the last minute. We take the positives out of the game. A point in the week doesn’t look as bad now.

“In this league anyone can beat anyone and this was a potential banana skin for us but that’s three points on Saturday.”

Worcester almost took the lead straight after the kick-off when Dave Reynolds latched on to the end of a lofted through-ball but his soft shot went straight into the hands of the Rocester keeper Richard Froggatt.

The visitors did make the breakthrough on 17 minutes though when Tomkinson outpaced the Rocester defence and his cross landed at the feet of Hughes who slid the ball into the net.

The Staffordshire side pressed further forward as they tried to get back into the game and Jermaine Palmer should have done better when the ball landed at his feet inside the box but his shot ballooned over the bar.

The first half began to peter out and although the Romans picked up a free-kick just before half-time the low cross was blocked by Worcester’s Tyler Weir and easily cleared away from danger.

The visitors started the second half just as strong as the first and began to pile the pressure on in a bid to double their lead but the men in yellow held them back.

Reynolds went close just after the hour mark when he twisted and turned the Romans’ defence before shooting from distance but keeper Froggatt came to the rescue again.

Hughes thought he’d got Worcester’s second moments later when he bounded into the box and put the ball into the net but he was judged to be offside.

The game had a nervy finish as Rocester, who were looking for a late equaliser, piled on the pressure.

But with seconds remaining Tomkinson doubled Worcester's advantage when he smashed home James Baldwin’s cross to secure the win.

Snape added: “If I had one criticism it’s that we didn’t play the football I would expect with the quality we have got so hopefully we can put that right on Saturday when we are back at home (against Haughmond).”

Rocester: Froggatt, Frost, H Lansdowne, Allen, A Lansdowne, Pratt, Ritchie-Smith (Szondi 69), Brockley, Palmer (Griffin 79), Smyth, Roome (Bromley 67). Subs not used: Morley, Stewart.

City: Gwynne, Alexandru, Weir, Fishwick, Smith, Hayward, Birley (Baldwin 82), Forsyth, Hughes, Reynolds (Lewis 85), Tomkinson. Subs not used: Harris-James, Griffiths, Davis.

Star man: Lee Hughes.

Attendance: 116.