THE only way is up for Worcester City if the Danks-effect continues to take hold.

Strike sensation Mark Danks scored for the third successive match, teasing and tormenting a normally stingy Lancaster City to motor Andy Preece's side up the table.

For the first time since August, Worcester are no longer in Nationwide North's bottom eight and looking worryingly over their shoulders.

Riding on such grand momentum, they should be waving goodbye for good to the likes of Redditch United, Leigh RMI and Worksop Town.

The next step is to successfully polish off those remaining games in hand and jump the boat sailing towards the play-offs.

It is no coincidence that Worcester's rich spell of results has occurred with Danks' emergence.

The ex-Forest Green striker has enlivened the St George's Lane side and provided a spark and zest that Preece searched high and low for.

Danks was irresistible -- as were the rest of his team-mates -- as City romped past the Dolly Blues.

Lancaster are among those sides vying for a play-off spot, but they took a battering, particularly in the first-half when City had the shots count-o-meter working on overtime.

But for exceptional Anthony McMillan between the sticks, City would have been on easy street long before the half-time whistle.

McMillan pulled off a host of agile stops to keep the North West club in the hunt. However, an assured display from Des Lyttle, Dennis Pearce and Justin Thompson meant there was very few sniffs for the visitors.

City's midfield engine room also warrants huge credit for their drive and determination, while Rob Warner and Shabir Khan kept rampaging forward down the flanks.

A major plus for Preece came from the quality of service provided out wide. Dangerous deliveries into the visitors' area were in good supply.

Canadian Thompson met everything in the air and was involved in both goals, stinging McMillan's palms before Danks and Webster tucked home the rebounds.

Some people cruelly describe City's sandy pitch as a beach. By that reckoning, it was Lancaster who were swept out to sea as Worcester's waves crashed over in the first-half.

Danks set the tone with a 25-yard blaster straight at McMillan, then a wicked deflection from George Clegg's strike looked to have deceived Lancaster's number one.

But McMillan reacted in time to beat the ball away. City kept on coming and from Pearce's neat cross, Danks tried a cushioned volley that bounced wide of the upright.

Only rarely did the visitors test City goalkeeper Danny McDonnell, although a near-post effort from Andrew Bond required a good tip wide and Mike Eckersley shot through into McDonnell's hand.

McMillan's reflexes were then in good order to beat away Danks' low shot, while he kept out Webster's close-range header moments later.

It looked to be one of those days for McMillan until Danks finally broke the deadlock on 32 minutes.

Following great pressure, Thompson climbed high to power goalwards Khan's inch-perfect cross. McMillan again stooped low to save, but composed Danks ran in to slot home. After their exertions, it was always going to be difficult to hit the same heights in the second-half.

Webster and Clegg both offered tame shots as the passion died a little, until the former settled matters on 78 minutes.

Thompson's volley was pushed onto the woodwork by McMillan and Webster hooked in the follow-up from eight yards.

Worcester were later boosted by the introduction of sub Jai Stanley, who -- to huge acclaim -- made his first appearance in five months following a third knee operation.

In the dying seconds, the home supporters were afforded another cheer when Bond blasted over a sitter.

City: McDonnell, Warner, Khan, Pearce, Thompson, Lyttle, Clegg (Stanley 82), Colley, Danks (Kelly 90), Webster (Preece 90), Warmer. Subs not used: Hodnett, Wood.

Attendance: 745.