MANAGER John Snape revealed he had been “tugging on a few heartstrings” to convince Brad Birch and Tyler Weir to stick with Worcester City.

The duo shone in a rip-roaring performance that saw City saunter to a 5-0 win over Long Eaton United last night with all of the goals arriving in a blistering 21-minute spell.

James Baldwin let fly from 20 yards and found the top corner via a deflection to open the floodgates 11 minutes in.

Dave Reynolds then made sure on the line after the second of Baldwin's two shots across goal had beaten keeper Scott Low.

Reynolds lashed in his second, a dipping shot that found the top corner but the quality of the strikes was to get even better.

Jamie Smith’s cross-field ping set in motion a terrific team goal, finding Weir who combined with Mat Birley to slice through United on the right and tee up a tap-in for Baldwin.

A ferocious dipping 30-yard blast from Brad Birch rubber stamped a certain victory with little more than half an hour played against opponents that had been on a six-match unbeaten run, winning four.

The pulsating performance was enough for Snape, who confirmed Weir had registered with Redditch United after days of speculation, to redouble his efforts to hang on to his star turns.

Skipper Birch featured for Stourbridge on Tuesday.

“We will be speaking with Tim (Harris, Redditch manager) about availability and tugging on a few heart strings with Birchy and Tyler,” said Snape.

“I didn’t take the armband from Brad because I want him to stay. I think he played slightly out of position for Stourbridge in the week which was disappointing.

"He showed his class and quality in the middle of the park for us and we would miss that energy.

“It is frustrating for me at the minute but we will be talking to both of them.

“I think they know the position we’re in and the managers of the other clubs they have registered with will understand me trying to tempt them back.

“We are concentrating on what is in our control and that’s winning matches. These two Worcester boys can be the catalyst to win the league and I don’t want them to go.”

Despite the classy array of strikes, Snape insisted there could only be one winner in a competitive goal-of-the-night competition.

“I think it was Birchy’s because of the distance and where it ended up,” said Snape.

“The other goals were executed very well with some good passing from the front two. They came in for some criticism at Loughborough (University) for not making the ball stick but they ran riot this time.

“I don’t think we started particularly well, it took us six minutes or so to realise where we could get in but once we did we kept doing it.

“From there we were comfortable and by the end of the first half we had played some lovely one-touch football on a bobbly pitch.”

The triumph sets up nicely tomorrow’s home clash with Boldmere St Michaels (3pm), a team in improved form.

“The win was good for confidence and I know with the squad we have that I can expect to go for three points again,” Snape added.

City: Gwynne, Weir (Danks, 69), J Smith (Hall, 61), Stoddart, Forsyth, Hayward, Birley (Robinson, h-t), Birch, Baldwin, Reynolds, Tomkinson. Unused subs: Ambalu, M Smith.

Attendance: 270.