JAMES Lemon has been tipped for a bright future in football after enjoying a dream debut for Worcester City.

For as long as the striker plays the game, he will never forget the day he scored his first goal for the Blue and Whites.

Last Saturday was Lemon’s 18th birthday and he celebrated by coming off the bench as a late substitute, wearing the number 18 shirt, to grab the fourth goal in City’s 4-0 FA Cup victory over Coventry Sphinx.

It is the next step in development for the teenager who has caught the eye after being recommended to manager Carl Heeley by the club’s academy boss Mark Owen, himself a former City striker.

Lemon, inset, is in the second year with the academy, where he also studies for a BTEC level three in sport performance and excellence at Worcester College of Technology.

Such has been his progression, he already has five goals to his name for the academy this term and has also been loaned to Stourport Swifts, who play three levels below City, in a bid to gain more experience.

Owen said: “We have high hopes for him because he’s got a great attitude and work ethic.

“He’s been superb. He finished last season really strongly and I mentioned him and a few others to Carl over the summer and he invited them to train in pre-season.

“James has been outstanding this season and I rang Carl a few weeks ago to say he needed pushing on.

“Carl said they could use seven subs in the FA Cup so he would give him his first squad appearance and if they game was going well would try and give him some minutes.

“The game went that way but I don’t think anybody thought he would score a goal with virtually his first touch.”

Lemon was equally surprised to see the ball hit the back of the net after keeping his composure to latch on to Daniel Nti’s flick-on.

The Alvechurch-based youngster said: “My first touch was alright but I was a bit far out so I had to take the ball closer to the goal and then when I shot I originally thought it was going wide but luckily it went in. “I will never forget that.

“The feeling when I scored the goal was unreal and I am so happy that I scored.

“I didn’t think I was going to get any time on the pitch because the game was so close for 60 minutes. It’s good to get Worcester into the next round of the FA Cup.”

Lemon added: “It’s a step up from the academy as the players I’m playing against are a lot stronger and more physical — the game seems a lot faster.”