WORCESTER City held on for 88 minutes against League Two side Oxford United before going down to a spectacular goal.

Billy Beechers' superb individual strike in the 89th minute produced a flattering 1-0 scoreline for Brian Talbot's men.

The U's brought a second string down to St George's Lane but they started off the brighter during a scrappy opening period.

Des Lyttle had to be alert to clear under pressure from Danny Morgan but the Oxford striker proved a constant thorn in Worcester's side throughout the early stages.

Morgan evaded Shabir Khan's challenge and prodded a right-footed shot which was well held by Danny McDonnell in the City goal.

The hosts began to play with more urgency as the half progressed and Nick Colley drove in a dangerous ball from the right, which was cut out on the six-yard box.

United might have had a penalty on the half-hour mark but Lyttle got just enough on the ball as he challenged Jamie Brooks.

Worcester's best move of the first-half came when Colley drilled a through-ball up to Adam Webster, who chested it down to player-manager Andy Preece.

Preece laid it off to Les Hines but the full-back was fouled before he could get a cross in.

Hines could not produce anything with the free-kick but minutes later, from the other side of the goal, his shot dipped just over the bar.

City peppered the goal at the start of the second-half and Preece thumped a free-kick, which 'keeper Gareth Tucker did well to turn around the post. Hines then cut in from the left but his shot was deflected wide by Lee Molyneaux.

City brought on a raft of substitutions, with Liam McDoanld and Leon Kelly both looking lively.

McDonald's cross nearly produced a goal but Webster headed just over.

Then the midfielder tested Tucker with a long-range effort, which was pushed behind.

And Kelly fired in a powerful shot from the left, which Tucker could only parry to safety.

But for all City's endeavours, it was United who went home with the win after Beechers picked the ball up on the left and curled the ball beyond McDonnell into the corner.

City: McDonnell, Colley, Hines (Clegg 80), Khan, C Smith, Lyttle (Wooley 62), Warmer, Stanley (McDonald 62), Webster (Jones 80), Hyde, Preece (Kelly 80). Subs (not used): Hodnett, J Smith, Hubball, Skyers.