WORCESTER City booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Marsh Challenge Cup following a nervy 1-0 win at Westfields on Tuesday night.
Their 14th straight win in all competitions equalled a 47-year-old club record of consecutive victories set back in 1977 but also saw them keep their non-league quadruple hopes alive.
Kyonn Evans finished off a lovely flowing move just three minutes into the quarter-final, but City did not have it all their own way throughout the next 87 as hosts Westfields pushed Chris Cornes' men close in a scrappy yet absorbing cup tie.
READ MORE | Cornes: 'Every week these lads have stood up and answered to that pressure'
Boss Cornes made a number of changes from the 4-1 Hellenic League Premier win at Fields just three days before and it was one of those, stand-in keeper Joe Stockton, who played a pivotal role in the game, three times coming to City's rescue to keep their lead intact.
Dan Stoneman went 1-on-1 with the young shot-stopper almost immediately after Evans' opener, only for Stockton to come out on top having rushed off his line to make a crucial block.
The visitors controlled the half in terms of possession, but Westfields pressed them and made it difficult as the rain added a further complication into the mix. But City still had their chances to extend their lead.
Evans pulled a ball back to Jordan Lymn in the box but he could only guide a shot wide from eight yards out and Izak Reid had a goal ruled out for offside following striker Evans' poke goalwards.
Just after half-time, Westfields were in again as Raphael Oppong got the wrong side of Lorcan Sheehan, only for Stockton to close the angle well and make the save.
Westfields continued to press and, as the half wore on, the more tense the game became.
And there was a real heart-in-mouth moment for City when a loose header from a corner bobbled towards the bottom corner, only for Stockton to scramble back and somehow claw the ball off the line and around the post.
But City withstood the pressure and finished the game with a couple of chances themselves, the best of which falling to centre-half Elliot Keightley from a corner, whose header was well saved by Finlay Croft in the hosts' goal.
Worcester have now won every game to start 2024 and enter March knowing they remain on course in all four competitions. They are back in league action on Friday night at local rivals Pershore Town, where they could set a new club record for consecutive wins (15) in all competitions.
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