TYLER Weir made hay in a more attacking role with the double that saw Worcester City trump 10-man Long Eaton in the FA Vase.

Weir’s goals came in the first half despite the visitors creating plenty of openings of their own with Zak Goodson forcing far enough over the line to halve the deficit four minutes before half-time.

But Dan Faulkner saw red for a second bookable offence moments later with the contest turning scrappy during a windswept second half.

Jamie Smith and Mat Birley returned to a starting XI that reverted to a back four with Weir on the right of the three that supported lone frontman Jordan Harrison. Birley played the number-10 role.

City started brightly enough but looked vulnerable at the back with burly defender Ross Parker heading narrowly wide early on.

The hosts led after 21 minutes when Birley played short a corner to Weir who ghosted inside and fired high across goal and beyond the grasp of keeper Scott Low.

Ruben Wiggins-Thomas fired in a low centre which saw Goodson draw a point-blank save from Dan Jezeph and Jack Duffy thumped narrowly wide of the far post as Long Eaton signalled their intent during sporadic attacks.

The lively Goodson then span George Forsyth and forced Jezeph to parry around the upright with a strong single glove.

City kept probing, though, and stamped their authority with a beautiful team goal seven minutes before half-time.

It started with Jamie Smith’s raking pass for Weir on the right who then exchanged with Chris Withington before firing high inside the near post via a deflection.

Within two minutes Long Eaton had one back when Wiggins-Thomas headed a corner back into the danger area for Zak Goodson to score despite Birley’s attempts to clear.

But hopes of a comeback were dented within minutes when Faulkner clumsily clattered into Smith while contesting a high ball to pick up his second yellow.

The second half was a scrappy-yet-nervy affair for City with Goodson driving wide after wriggling into space just past the hour.

It was hard to tell that Long Eaton were a man light but such was the error-strewn nature of both team’s passing, chances remained at a premium.

Goodson was perhaps lucky not to join Scanlon on the sidelines following a high, late lunge on Joel Caines and while United threw Parker up top to wreak havoc late on, there was little more to concern Jezeph.

Home substitute Kyonn Evans had a near post shot pushed round the post at the death as City held firm to scoop £825 in prize money and a place in Monday’s second round draw.

The next round takes place on the weekend of Saturday, November 3, meaning the Midland Football League trip to Long Eaton scheduled for that day was always going to be rearranged whatever the outcome.

City: Jezeph, English, J Smith, Forsyth, Stoddart, Caines, Weir, Withington (Lockett, 70), Harrison (Evans, 78), Birley, Baldwin (Hesson, 90). Unused subs: Bates, Gilder (g/k).

Long Eaton: Low, Thornton, Scanlon, Gamblen (Rowley, 86), Parker, Faulkner, F Smith, Goodson, Wiggins-Thomas, Duffy (Kolodynski, 78). Unused subs: none.

Referee: Pete Crowe.

Attendance: 424.