A GOAL at the start of each half proved sufficient as Worcester City defeated Leamington 2-0 at the second time of asking to continue their FA Cup adventure.

Captain Ellis Deeney fired home after just four minutes of tonight’s third qualifying round replay before Danny Jackman scored his first goal for the club two minutes after the break.

Victory, worth £7,500 to the Blue and Whites, moved Carl Heeley’s side a step closer the first round proper and now just Greenwich Borough, who they face on Sunday week, stand between them and that becoming a reality.

Despite the scoreline, it wasn’t a comfortable ride for City as Leamington, having hit back at the weekend to force the replay, laid siege to Nathan Vaughan’s goal late on.

City substitute David McDermott and Brakes defender Joe Magunda were also both booked following an ugly confrontation during a frantic finale with Heeley having to prise the pair apart.

Deeney had earlier given City the perfect start.

Connor Gater’s left-wing cut-back found the skipper on the edge of the box and his shot was blocked by Daniel Nti.

However, the ball rebounded back to the midfielder and he swept it confidently beyond the dive of keeper Neil Collett from 12 yards.

The hosts, who had Sean Geddes cautioned for dissent in the first-half, continued to go for the jugular and their blistering start unsettled the visitors.

Collett felt the pressure and he inexplicably spilled Deeney’s tame punt forward behind for a corner, from which Jackman’s cross was headed clear from inside the six-yard box by Jamie Tank.

Former Worcester winger Matt Dodd fired wide for the visitors and Richard Batchelor was off target after veteran centre-half Wayne Thomas, in for Graham Hutchison, made a rare error.

A nervy Collett, who made several fine saves on Saturday, gifted the hosts their next chance by conceding another cheap corner.

From Jackman’s delivery, Deeney headed goalwards and Nick Wright lashed the ball across the six-yard box and wide.

But the visitors looked more likely to score before the break and it needed a smart save low to his left by Vaughan to push Dan Newton’s crisp drive past the post.

However, unlike on Saturday, City gave themselves breathing space just two minutes after the restart.

Jackman broke downfield, fed the ball out to George Williams on the right and then continued his run into the box to meet the full-back’s pinpoint cross and glance the ball past Collett.

City sought a third goal but Leamington refused to lie down and a skidding drive from captain Stephan Morley pinged off the gloves of Vaughan and inches wide.

The Brakes, who had Jack Edwards booked for a crunching challenge on Jackman, made a double change and, seconds later, Vaughan acrobatically tipped Newton’s drive over the bar.

Stefan Moore almost took advantage of Jacob Rowe’s scuffed clearance soon after and substitute Aron Wint headed straight at the Worcester keeper.

James Fry did force the ball into the goal but he was judged to have shoulder-charged Vaughan in the process.

City: Vaughan 8, Williams 8, Weir 8, Thomas 8*, Rowe 8, Jackman 8 (Hutchison 90+1), Nti 7, Gater 7, Wright 7 (Murphy 54, 6), Geddes 7 (McDermott 80), Deeney 8. Subs not used: Shabir, Gudger, Taylor, Veiga.

Attendance: 598.