WORCESTER City boss Chris Cornes felt "proud as punch" following his side's 3-2 win at title rivals Corsham Town on Saturday. 

The visitors had to play 45 minutes with 10 men after captain Adam Mace was sent off at the end of the first-half, but three goals in the first 30 minutes gave City something to defend after the break.

Going in 3-1 at half-time, City managed to keep Corsham out until stoppage time when Niekell Plummer scored from the penalty spot for the second time in the game to make it a nervy finale.

But Cornes' men held on for a thoroughly deserved three points to take them six points clear at the top of the Hellenic League Premier. 

"That second-half performance makes me proud as punch because down to ten men we have still tried to play and get out of defence shape and make chances," said Cornes at full-time.

"Yes we rode our luck at times but that's football for you and I just thought we were absolutely brilliant and I am so proud of them all."

It was a rapid start from the league leaders on Saturday, who stunned their hosts with three brilliant goals in the opening 37 minutes.

Liam Lockett's precise curling effort made it 1-0 after just three minutes and Kyle Belmonte added a second before the half-hour mark with a superb strike from 25 yards.

Lockett, who was involved in all three goals, then turned provider for a second time as his cut-back to Elliot Hartley was dispatched in style through the keeper's legs.

"The first-half performance, we absolutely blew them away and I am not sure they expected that from us," added Cornes.

"We have had three chances and scored three goals, and they are all brilliant goals and I think if some of those decisions aren't made (by the referee) then we would have maybe blown them away even more in that second-half. 

"I don't think they caused us too many problems other than their long throw-ins. They didn't try and play and I thought we played them off the park at times.

"Yes down to 10 men you are going to ride your luck a bit, especially with 60 odd throws into the box, 20 corners and the referee against you.

"Haydn (Whitcombe, Worcester keeper) has also made two or three top saves as well. He saves goals for us and today he kept us in that game.

"And then the lads in front of him have also worked their socks off and I cannot ask for anything more than what I got today."