WORCESTER CITY 4 SHERWOOD COLLIERY 3

TEN-man Worcester City survived a huge scare as David threatened to down Goliath at the Victoria Ground.

Lee Hughes put City in front with a swirling finish inside the far post from Mat Birley’s centre 12 minutes in.

Hughes brushed the outside of the post and Dave Reynolds was denied a penalty before netting himself, diverting a low pass from George Forsyth past Liam Kerry five minutes before half-time.

That kicked off a mad ending to the first half as Sherwood’s Liam Theakston was upended by keeper Matt Gwynne in the box with Ewan Robson slamming in the penalty.

Ricky Starbuck’s curved ball then played in Theakston to roll under Gwynne to level less than 60 seconds later.

There was still time for City to move back in front before the break as Forsyth’s cross was headed home by Jamie Smith.

Birley found Hughes to cut back for Reynolds to guide in City’s fourth six minutes after the restart but less than two minutes later, home captain Brad Birch was sent off for an alleged elbow.

Theakston halved the deficit by nudging in Liam Beardsley’s cross and he could have had a hat-trick when his shot flew back off the upright.

Sherwood kept probing but created little in the final 20 minutes. STAR MAN: Liam Theakston (Sherwood Colliery) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★