WORCESTER City ended their Skrill Conference North season in style with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Boston United at Aggborough on Saturday (April 26).
Two outstanding strikes from Tyler Weir followed another Daniel Nti finish to secure the perfect ending to a difficult campaign, and sees Worcester equal last years 15th place finish with a total of 50 points.
Boston, who could have sealed a play-off spot if results went their way, had their misery compounded when Steffan Galinski was sent off late on for a professional challenge.
The visitors almost had the ball in the back of the net after just a minute when Jose Veiga’s clearance hit Liam Agnew and bounced agonisingly wide.
Martin Devaney tried his luck in an entertaining opening five minutes as he cut in from the right but his shot dragged past the post, before the midfielder hobbled off injured and was replaced by Ethan Moore.
The substitute had an immediate chance to open the scoring after a neat exchange down the left between Nti and Aaron Williams saw the latter deliver a low ball but Moore couldn’t quite the ball out of his feet to test Lewis King.
Renee Steer created an opening for himself after 28 minutes cutting inside Graham Hutchison and firing a low shot which was deflected and kept out by Veiga’s legs.
In an end-to-end game the Blue and Whites were next to have a sighting on goal when Aaron Williams played in his namesake George, his cross picked out Nti but the striker’s shot on the turn was tipped wide by King.
City’s top scorer utilised his pace to cause The Pilgrims back line more problems three minutes later when he capitalised on a mix-up between Carl Piergianni and King to take the ball round the keeper, but he was forced too wide and Aaron Williams eventual strike was comfortably saved.
Carl Heeley’s men were out of the traps quickly in the second period and Aaron Brown looped a header on to the top of the net before Ellis Deeney flashed his 20-yard drive wide.
The goal Worcester’s pressure deserved came after 53 minutes. Deeney’s initial corner was hacked away off the line but with his second attempt he picked out Nti who neatly dispatched his 16th goal of the season.
Boston were close to equalising almost instantly when Jamie McGhee beat Wayne Thomas down the left and, despite appearing to be having his shirt pulled, found Ricky Miller whose shot was somehow kept out by a combination of Weir and Veiga.
It was 2-0 to the hosts three minutes later and it came from an unusual source as left-back Weir picked the ball up 20-yards and hit a stinging drive which flew past King and into the bottom corner.
If that strike was good, the former Gloucester man trumped it with 15 minutes remaining.
Weir drove into the Boston half from the left and smashed a truly stunning effort which swerved into the top corner past the hapless keeper.
With the play-offs a distant memory for United, their day got even worse when Galinski was shown a straight red card for bringing down Ebby Nelson-Addy as the midfielder burst through on goal.
Nti could have equalled Worcester’s biggest victory of the season late on but his effort inside the box was well kept out.
Manager Heeley said: “Certainly the second half was as well as we’ve played all season.
“I thought today, considering we were playing a team who have got to beat us to get in the playoffs, we looked like the side who had more desire.
“I thought we bossed the game for 90 minutes all over the park, and if it would have been more convincing I don’t think anyone could have argued.
“I’m delighted, I thought we were sensational today.”
Jonny Bonell reporting from Aggborough
Picture by Rob Bazley
Attendance: 854