LEE Hughes struck twice in three first-half minutes to help Worcester City waltz back to winning ways with a 4-1 success over Stourport Swifts.

Hughes bundled in the first before slotting in on the rebound from his own saved penalty to put City in complete control at the Victoria Ground.

There were flashes of inspiration for Swifts but George Forsyth’s free-kick all but sealed the win before Nick MacPherson got a quick reply for Stourport.

Shaky moments were few and far between, though, and substitute Mark Danks scored a fine individual goal late on to cap a strong City performance.

Little had happened before Dave Reynolds drilled across goal for Hughes to force over the line at the far post and the 41-yeard-old quickly doubled his tally.

A well-worked move saw Brad Birch stride into the box but he was upended by Myles Newman with Hughes netting at the second attempt after referee Tom Wainman had pointed to the spot.

Joel Caines cleared off the line from Hughes following more creativity from Reynolds and the ex-West Bromwich Albion frontman wasted a golden chance for a hat-trick from six yards before the break.

Hughes then back-heeled into the side netting from an impossible angle on the rebound from a shot by that man Reynolds before Worcester’s play became a little scruffy.

Having survived a couple of self-inflicted scares, Forsyth notched inside the near post after Jamie Smith had been chopped down by Jim Hanson long after the ball had gone.

Dan Sweeney’s swerving free-kick drew a fine save from Matt Gwynne but Nick MacPherson was on hand to bludgeon in from close range with 15 minutes to go.

Alex Perry should have made it 3-2 less than a minute later but could not connect with Sweeney’s inviting ball and Worcester soon woke from their brief slumber.

Danks gracefully left Sam Beasley trailing in his wake before firing low into the bottom right corner with six minutes left and while City lived dangerously at the end, some smart stops from Gwynne ensured they finished three goals to the good.

City: Gwynne, Weir, J Smith, Stoddart, Forsyth, Hayward, Baldwin (Sarmento, 63), Birch, Hughes (Danks, 73), Reynolds (O'Donnell, 85), Tomkinson. Unused subs: Thomas, Dayus (g/k).

Swifts: Richards, Caines, Beasley, Newman (Jim Hanson, h-t), Hurrell, Priest, Sweeney, Parsons-Smith (Joe Hanson, h-t), Lloyd (Hudson, 81), Perry, MacPherson. Unused subs: Higginson, Palmer (g/k).

Attendance: 387. 

Referee: Mr Tom Wainman.