A SUPERB strike from Ebby Nelson-Addy lifted Worcester City out of the Skrill Conference North relegation zone as they secured a 1-0 win over in-form Harrogate Town.
The visitors came into the game on the back of three league wins, but Nelson-Addy’s strike, coupled with yet more heroics from Jose Veiga, gave Carl Heeley’s side only their second home league win of the season.
The hosts could have taken the lead with just a minute on the clock. Danny Glover’s free-kick hit the wall and the ball fell to Ethan Moore but the striker fired his effort wide of the target.
Veiga was first called into action just before the five minute mark when a Cleveland Taylor corner found the unmarked Steve Mallory but the defender’s effort was brilliantly tipped away by the Portuguese stopper.
After ten minutes it was the hosts who took the lead in some style. Moore picked the ball up on the edge of a crowded box and fed it across to Nelson-Addy who drilled home into the corner of the net.
There were hearts in mouths after 21 minutes when Veiga collided with Chris Hall, and with no replacement keeper on the bench, City were relieved to see their star-performer get back to his feet.
Worcester almost doubled their led two minutes later when Moore broke down the left and crossed for Nelson-Addy who in-turn found Glover, bit his volley was tipped round the post by Craig MacGillivary.
Harrogate had a great chance to level the game two minutes after the restart as referee Steven Plane awarded the visitors a free-kick inside the D but Michael Woods’ stinging drive was beaten away by the impressive Veiga.
In an end-to-end second half Taylor drilled an effort straight at the City keeper before quick passing from Richard Taundry and Glover enabled a shooting opportunity for Aaron Williams but the attacker’s effort was comfortably saved by MacGillivary.
Substitute Tyler Weir had a glorious opportunity to wrap the points up with 15 minutes to go when MacGillivary’s poor clearance fell to the left back but he opted to shoot straight at the keeper with others better placed.
With two minutes remaining Veiga produced yet more heroics to preserve City’s lead when substitute Anton Brown’s point-blank range volley was beaten away.
With four minutes of added time awarded Carl Heeley’s men stood firm and defended valiantly for just their third league win of the season.
Manager Heeley said: “We certainly had to work hard for it, and I thought that’s probably the best side we’ve played this season I was really impressed with Harrogate and they’ve been on a terrific run.
“To win the game and keep a clean sheet against them, with their force coming forward they’ve got a lot of attacking options, and I thought we defended superbly well today, especially in the second period.”
Jonny Bonell reporting from Aggborough
