LEE Hughes fired a timely second-half double as Worcester City broke down stubborn Haughmond at the Victoria Ground.

City largely controlled the contest but found chances hard to come by against the well-drilled visitors who sat back and lacked punch in the final third.

Hughes darted in at the far post to bludgeon in James Baldwin’s centre just before the hour with the second arriving three minutes later.

Baldwin was again involved but Haughmond’s George Carpenter should have cleared from the edge of the box. Instead, he dallied with Hughes driving into the box and rifling high to the right of keeper Sam Jones.

After a bright start by the hosts, Haughmond threatened when a close-range header from Matt Owen had to be pawed away by Matt Gwynne from a long Carl Rogers throw.

Some last-ditch defending prevented City from having free shots at goal, while Alex Tomkinson’s curling cross-shot was a fraction away with Mark Smith looking to pounce at the far post after 24 minutes.

The home side’s injury worries were exacerbated when Josh Sarmento went off ill to be replaced by youthful prospect Ethan Moran.

There were a couple of wobbles after a slow start to the second half but once Hughes had plundered his sixth and seventh goals of the campaign, the game was up.

Hughes might have had a third but his point-blank header was clutched by Sam Jones from Tyler Weir’s hooked ball back into the danger zone in the 71st minute.

Haughmond enjoyed a rare foray forward with 18 minutes to play but top scorer Steve Hole cleared the crossbar at the end of a slick, incisive move.

Baldwin, sprightly substitute Jack O’Donnell and Tomkinson all went close in a dominant end to a match that saw City earn victory.

City: Gwynne, Forsyth, Weir, M Smith, Thomas, Hayward, Sarmento (Moran, 31), Birley, Hughes (Albert, 85), Baldwin (O’Donnell, 76), Tomkinson. Unused subs: A Griffiths, Lewis.

Haughmond: Sam Jones, Carpenter, J Griffiths, Simms (Fletcher, 66), Williams, Rogers (A Jones, 66), Owen, Howells, Hole, Renshaw (Phillips, h-t), Parry. Unused subs: Hewitt, Sean Jones.

Attendance: 336.