AS the Worcester City players left the Bramall Lane pitch, they were given a standing ovation by the home fans.

The Sheffield United players, manager and coaches joined in the applause after their 3-0 win in the FA Cup first round.

It was the end of City’s cup dream for another year but at least it was an end they will remember for the rest of their lives.

And this was no fake show of appreciation from a Football League side going through the motions.

They had been stretched by their non-league visitors who, for 81 minutes, were in with a chance to forcing the cup tie to a replay.

Yes, the Blades had created more than enough chances to wrap up the game and it’s true that Nathan Vaughan had pulled off two outstanding saves to keep his side in contention.

But at 1-0 it needed just a moment of magic for the Aggborough outfit to level – and that very nearly happened.

Midway through the second half, Dan Nti sent a tantalising low cross into the six-yard box and substitute Tristian Dunkley’s touch wasn’t quite enough to steer the ball past Blades keeper George Long.

It wasn’t to be and two goals in the final few minutes put a rather lopsided look to the scoreline, the home side having chalked up their opener from the penalty spot before half-time.

City’s chances were rare but they were never overawed by the occasion.

Ashley Vincent warmed Long’s fingertips inside the opening six minutes with a fizzing effort that had to be helped over the crossbar.

The Blades needed their central defensive pairing of Neil Collins and skipper Chris Basham to be on their best behaviour to deal with the threat of City’s lone striker Deon Burton.

Lone striker that is until those final stages when the visitors needed to chase the game.

Then it was largely a four-man attack with substitutes Shaun Harrad and Dunkley linking up with Nti and Burton.

But there was still no way through and, as tiredness crept in, the Blades wrapped things up to secure their place in the second-round draw.

For the record, all three goals were well worked, including the move that led to the 19th minute penalty when Che Adams played a one-two on the edge of the area only to be felled by Sam Minihan. Jose Baxter fired in from the spot.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce starred for the Blades, tormenting Minihan until the City defender was replaced by Tyler Weir early in the second half.

And it was the 32-year-old Jamaican international who set-up his side’s second on 81 minutes, this time beating Alex Gudger with his trickery before sending in a low cross which Conor Sammon nudged home from two yards.

Kieron Freeman completed the scoring, again from close range after jinking his way into the area and swapping passes with Sammon.

The scoreline may not have been a true reflection on the game nor did it do justice to Worcester’s heroics but at least the standing ovation showed their efforts had not gone unnoticed.