DRIVING force Brad Birch racked up more than 300 miles either side of a full day of work prior to inspiring Worcester City’s stirring fightback at Westfields on Wednesday.

The captain scored one and set up the other three goals in City’s 4-2 victory at Westfields having dashed back from fitting kitchens in Bognor Regis during the day.

But far from feeling the effects of more than six hours on the road, Birch kept motoring until the last against his former club to provide the ammunition for Lee Hughes to fire in two goals in the final four minutes.

Maximum points from the thriller in Hereford kept City in touch with the Midland Football League Premier Division title race with Birch only too happy to do it all over again.

“Maybe I will have to ask the gaffer to send me down there more often,” he quipped.

“I left the house at 4am for a four-hour journey down south and had to work as quickly as I could to make it back in time.

“It was close but I made it to the ground for about 6.45 which gave me an hour to prepare and to be honest, I felt fine.

“Once you’ve got yourself there, the focus very quickly switches to the game and making sure you’re set up well in your mind for what’s ahead.

“I was pleased and proud to score and get three assists, of course, but the main thing was the three points. As happy as I was with my own performance, I was so proud of the lads as well because we all had to dig deep.

“We had let in two sloppy goals but found the character to kick on and finish off the game. The win was massive for us.”

But even after going to such lengths, Worcester-based Birch still found himself counting sheep when he got home.

“After games like that you’re usually awake until 1am,” he said.

“The adrenalin kicks in and you’re just so happy, especially when you get a result from such a tough place to visit but then you have to get up for work again three hours later.

“I never know where I am going to be with work. I tend to find out on an evening whether I am way up north, down south or somewhere more local so it can be tricky.

“I do have to get my skates on to make games but that’s typical of non-league football, you have your occupation and I know a lot of lads who rush back to get through it.”