WORCESTER City appear to have stepped off the roller coaster to board an escalator in recent weeks.

Three matches without white-knuckle rides, solid results and much-needed control in performances is the stuff to rejuvenate promotion dreams on the terraces.

The madness of topsy-turvy FA Vase ties, spurned league opportunities and unsettled spells in matches was entertaining but surely fans should feel far more content with this firmer stranglehold on matches.

A goalless first half against stubborn, well-organised and defensive opponents tested faith in the stands but to their credit injury-hit City remained patient and eventually blew down the house.

The feeling has always been that if John Snape could get his defensive cohort to be as uncompromising as he was in his day that this team would find a way to win games and so it has proved.

Without question, this was another of those games where Worcester needed to win irrespective of the performance.

Fluent it was not but in spite of key personnel being sat in the stands there was rarely any doubt as to which way this would go thanks to a calm and consistent approach.

Without creative catalyst Mark Danks and poacher extraordinaire Dave Reynolds, that final touch had to come from somewhere and joint-boss Lee Hughes set the example, complemented by determined partner-in-crime James Baldwin.

After a bright start by the hosts, it was Haughmond who threatened first when a close-range header from Matt Owen had to be pawed away by keeper Matt Gwynne following a long Carl Rogers throw.

City were continually denied shooting opportunities by last-ditch defending in spite of Baldwin’s best efforts which saw him on the receiving end of some robust challenges.

Alex Tomkinson’s curling cross-shot was a fraction away with Mark Smith looking to pounce at the far post after 24 minutes, while the home side’s injury woes worsened when the ill Josh Sarmento went off to be replaced by youthful prospect Ethan Moran.

Worcester fans need not have worried as the plucky frontman, who has notched three goals in as many appearances in Midland League Under-21 West, stepped up to the plate admirably.

There were a couple of wobbles during a slow start to the second half until Hughes stifled growing Haughmond momentum in the 58th minute, darting in at the far post to bludgeon in Baldwin’s thumped centre.

Three minutes later and it was all over as Hughes seized upon George Carpenter’s hesitancy on the edge of the box to stride into the danger area and blast a rising rocket high inside the near upright.

Hughes might have had a third but his point-blank header was clutched by Sam Jones from Tyler Weir’s hooked ball back into the danger zone.

Haughmond enjoyed a rare foray forward with 18 minutes to play but top scorer Steve Hole cleared the crossbar at the end of a slick, incisive move.

But that was to be the only late worry as Baldwin, sprightly substitute Jack O’Donnell and Tomkinson all went close in a dominant end to a match that saw City earn victory.