TOP scorer Dave Reynolds set up the first and bagged a double as Worcester City ground out a hard-fought 3-0 victory over Coventry United.

Alex Tomkinson broke the deadlock four minutes after half-time with Reynolds doubling the advantage another four minutes later.

City did a good job of containing a robust United outfit from there and the ex-Malvern Town hitman had the final word by guiding in his 21st of the campaign in the seventh minute of added time.

Reynolds and Lee Hughes did not quite manage to find the same wavelength early on but City controlled proceedings and gradually grew into the game.

It was Hughes who dropped deep to feed the run of Reynolds 26 minutes in with Richard Morris forced to save a blast across goal from an acute angle.

The pressure built with a handful of corners and Reynolds went close during the last knockings of the first half.

Hughes pinched possession off a marauding defender to play Reynolds into the left of the box but Morris advanced and covered his angles well to block once more.

A ball rolled in from the right created the first goal with Reynolds steering out into the path of Tomkinson’s well-timed run for the winger to fire low past Morris.

Sturdy hold-up play from Hughes made the second, drawing in two defenders for Reynolds to dash beyond and rifle under the hopelessly-exposed keeper.

The niggly fouls that had been a feature of the first half returned with United offering little in attack until ex-Coventry City playmaker Kevin Thornton was introduced just past the hour.

With 13 minutes to go, Thornton played Ben Vallance down the left but his cutback was sent sailing over Bromsgrove’s Shed End Stand from 20 yards by Chris Cox. 

Referee Ryan Williams became the centre of attention by producing a flurry of yellow cards and held up play to the frustration of both benches by calling back Hughes to book him after he had been substituted and made his way down the tunnel.

Lewis Rankin mercilessly scythed down Reynolds right under Williams’s nose on the halfway line, prompting calls for a red card with a minute to go, but the City man had the last laugh.

Jamie Smith clipped down the wing for James Baldwin to chase and, with marker Niall Rowe overcommitted, found himself free on the left to pick out the run of Reynolds who planted past Morris one-on-one.

City: Vaughan, Weir, J Smith, M Smith, Forsyth, Hayward, Birley (Halil, 85), Birch, Hughes (Baldwin, 78), Reynolds, Tomkinson. Unused subs: Thomas, Stoddart, Gwynne (g/k).

Coventry United: Morris, Vallance, James (Alleyne, 16), Rowe, Clarke, Barnett (Cooke, 57), Rankin, Mussa, Cox, McDonald, Prinzel (Thornton, 62). Unused sub: Opoku.

Attendance: 354.

Referee: Mr Ryan Williams.