OLD boy Mark Owen sent Worcester City crashing out of the Worcestershire Senior Cup with his first goal from open play in more than three months tonight.

The former St George's Lane favourite, now on the academy staff, expertly struck the 58th-minute winner with a looping flick over Worcester 'keeper Paul Wyatt.

It was no more than Evesham United deserved against a strong City team who enjoyed an ideal start when Mark Danks gave them an eighth-minute lead.

The striker should have made it 2-0 seconds later when he robbed Nathan Vaughan only to see the goalkeeper recover.

Danks' display was one of the few bright spots for City and he proved a constant thorn in United's side before being replaced by Adam Webster 21 minutes from time.

Webster thought he had taken the semi-final into extra-time when he netted Graham Ward's injury-time cross but an assistant's flag intervened.

Danks forced a fine stop out of Vaughan after 20 minutes but the visitors went straight down the other end and Simon Fitter's superb curling free-kick levelled matters.

Wyatt was then at full stretch to turn aside James Fox's left-footer.

Tempers flared and there were yellow cards for Mark Hands, Chris Cornes and Craig Wilding before the break.

Hands and Cornes were both quickly out of the action in the second-half with injuries.

Danks fired narrowly over as City assumed control but, after Tom Warmer's heavy challenge on Liam Givans earned the City midfielder a caution, Liam Daly helped on the free-kick and Owen's finish was worthy of an entertaining tie.

Webster came close to making it 2-2 but his free header from Warmer's corner was straight at Vaughan.

Vaughan proved equal to Nick Colley's stinging drive and was then relieved to see Wilding race clear only to drag a shot wide. Paul West's men face Stourbridge or Halesowen in the final.

City: Wyatt, Ward, Watkins, Hodnett, Thompson (Khan 65), Pearce, Warmer, Walker, Danks (Webster 69), Wilding, Cornes (Colley 51).

Evesham: Vaughan, Watson, Fitter, Daly, S Hands, M Hands (Wellington 45), Lutz, Givans, Owen (West 79), Lennon, Fox. Subs not used: Dulai, Shaw, Sanders.

Attendance: 217.