JOINT-manager Matt Gardiner saluted veteran finisher Lee Hughes after his double clinched Worcester City a vital 3-1 victory over Bradford Park Avenue.

The former Premier League striker sent City on their way to a first win in more than a month in Vanarama National League North with a thumping strike on nine minutes at Aggborough.

A spectacular volley from Chib Chilaka put Avenue level before Dan Nti’s 25-yard free-kick gave Worcester the lead.

With seconds left of an entertaining first half, Hughes demonstrated his quality again when he lobbed keeper Ryan Jones for his 14th goal of the season.

“What can you say about Lee? He is 39 years old and still outpacing the back four,” Gardiner said.

“You have got to remember he has played 65 minutes on Saturday and was running round.

“He could have done the 90 minutes that day but we had half an eye on Tuesday night as well.

“As we saw with his goal on Saturday and then his two on Tuesday, we know we have got a chance of scoring with him in the team.

“That’s now 14 goals in 18 starts, so for him to do that at his age is brilliant.

“But he would be the first to say it has been the team that have put him in the positions to score as Kyle Perry and Deon Burton have done a great job keeping Bradford’s back three occupied.”

As well as ending their seven-match winless run, the victory also saw City climb four places to 14th and five points away from the relegation zone with six games left.

“In the context of where we are at this stage in the season, it was a massive three points,” Gardiner said.

“We knew this week would be big and the team battled through. When they equalised so quickly, it could have gone the other way. But they kept their nerve.”

City were without Wayne Thomas (back), Tom Sharpe (thigh) and Marius Ologu (groin) due to injury, while Shaun Donnellan was unavailable after being called up to play for West Brom under 21s on Monday.

Gardiner, whose side host former Football League side Stockport County on Saturday (3pm), was delighted to see his players step up to the plate.

“I am really pleased with Dan (Nti) because he has worked really hard and has had to play in a more central role for us as we have been struggling for numbers,” he added.

“But he has followed up his performance against North Ferriby with another great one. Young Kieran Morris has come in and done well, while Connor Gater and Tyler Weir have been fantastic.

“You can’t fault anyone. It was a proper team performance.”