WORCESTER City stunned league leaders Dover Athletic with their best result of the season.

Few would have believed a shock was on the cards following City’s start to the campaign but Richard Dryden’s side were more than worthy of their victory.

Mark Clyde capped a man-of-the-match performance with the decisive goal 11 minutes before half-time as he powered home a header from Rob Elvins’ cross.

The former Northern Ireland international was immense at the heart of the defence as City refused to let the off-field wrangling distract them to register back-to-back wins following their FA Cup success against Bourne.

Dover had periods of pressure, including nine corners, in a bid to find a way back and maintain their place at the summit but Worcester held firm and rarely looked flustered.

Manager Dryden and assistant Carl Heeley have said this team, put together on a relative shoestring, is capable of beating anyone on their day and this result proved just that.

Better still, it was witnessed by the biggest crowd at St George’s Lane this season and the roar given up by the home contingent at the final whistle has not been heard for a long time.

What is important now is that City use their latest triumph as a stepping stone to repeat successes and consign the first quarter of the season to the history books.

Matt Birley was the only change to the starting line-up, the former Kings Lynn midfielder, cup-tied against Bourne, replacing the injured Jordan Fitzpatrick.

Dover looked threatening early on and only six minutes had elapsed when Dean Hill’s header was deflected on to the crossbar.

Worcester finally emerged from their shell with Matt Dinsmore arriving unmarked to volley Kevin Spencer’s long throw inches wide on 20 minutes.

When the goal arrived, Andy Hessenthaler’s side could hardly have had any complaints. Keeper Lee Hook made a mess of dealing with Graham Ward’s corner, the ball came out to Elvins on the byline and he dinked over a cross which Clyde headed home.

Dover were on the ropes and Elvins should have kept them there moments later but his tame effort from 10 yards gave Hook chance to save.

It was the visitors who finished the half stronger with Ben Hinchliffe producing an excellent flying save to tip Sam Moore’s dipping drive over the top.

Dover dominated the start of the second period and used their three subs within the space of 11 minutes in a bid to effect a change but they continued to be fruitless in front of goal.

At the other end, sub Marco Adaggio slid a neat ball to Ward and the newly-crowned player-of-the-month had his shot cleared off the line by Ollie Schulz 16 minutes from time.

There was one last heart-in-the-mouth moment for the hosts in injury-time but Dover sub Frannie Collin curled his free-kick inches wide with Hinchliffe sprawling.