A TOWERING header from Aaron Brown extended Worcester City’s impressive recent form as they overcame mid-table Guiseley 1-0 in the Skrill Conference North.
Carl Heeley’s men came into the game having won four of their last five and the midfielder’s 51st minute goal ensured another successful afternoon and lifted the Blue and Whites up to 16th.
Ebby Nelson-Addy performed the necessary heroics by clearing off his own goal-line with just minutes to go, as Guiseley pushed for an equaliser, but City stood firm to record a 14th clean sheet in all competitions.
The hosts made a bright start at Nethermoor Park as Oli Johnson’s dangerous cross was well smothered by Jose Veiga before Wayne Brooksby’s free-kick whistled through a mass of bodies and just past the far post.
In a half of few chances Ellis Deeney’s long range drive was well held by Steve Drench and Brown’s speculative lob was also dealt with by the Guiseley keeper.
Substitute Danny Forrest flashed a shot just wide of Veiga’s post seconds after the restart but it was City who went on to take the lead five minutes later.
An inch-perfect ball from Graham Hutchison found Daniel Nti down the right hand side and his perfectly weighted cross picked out the on-rushing Brown at the back post who made no mistake to score his second goal since joining the club.
The towering midfielder could have added to his tally minutes later when he dragged his low shot just wide of the far post before heading Deeney’s in-swinging free-kick marginally wide.
The visitors looked dangerous on the counter-attack, Steven Leslie fired over from the edge of the area and top scorer Ethan Moore was denied by a good save from Drench.
After a sustained period of pressure, Worcester defended resolutely to preserve the lead with Veiga once again producing a string of saves and Alex Johnson lashed over from inside the six-yard box.
As the clock neared the 90 minute mark, Nelson-Addy proved his worth as he hacked clear Johnson’s attempt to bundle home, following a succession of Guiseley corners, to send the travelling Worcester fans home happy.
Manager Heeley said: “The manner in which we are approaching games is the pleasing bit for me, the stubbornness and determination not to get beat, not to concede goals, and the work-rate and commitment is for all to see.
“They’re getting the rewards for it now, the boys have learnt and improved as the season’s gone on and we’re getting the results we deserve now.
“We’ve won five out of six now and it’s brilliant. It’s a great return and we’re on a nice little run of form.”
City turn their attention to the Worcester Senior Cup tomorrow (Tuesday) when they make the short trip to the Valley Stadium to face Redditch United, 7.45pm kick off.