MARCO Adaggio scored an injury-time winner to make it a debut to remember for Worcester City.

The Italian striker, only signed on Wednesday, cracked a fine shot beyond keeper Darren Behcet with 92 minutes on the clock to hand Richard Dryden’s side a victorious start to their Blue Square South campaign.

An entertaining game, played in some of the worst weather for an opening-day-of-the-season fixture in recent memory, had looked to be heading for a draw after Simon Jackson had cancelled out Ollie Barnes’ first-half header with an 89th-minute equaliser.

But Adaggio, paired up front with Mark Owen, ensured hero status among the vociferous travelling support with a fine low skimming strike from just outside the penalty area with seconds left at a rain-lashed Nyewood Lane.

Manager Dryden must have thought his team had blown it after a creditable performance and will be delighted to go into tonight’s match against St Albans City with three points already on the board.

However, things did not get off to a good start as midfielder Dave Bampton picked up a booking inside two minutes and then hobbled off seconds later after being kicked on his right foot.

Bampton’s caution was one of three for the visitors with Jamie Price and Shabir Khan also having their names taken.

Bognor made all the early running with some neat passing but it was the visitors who had the first chance when Owen headed Price’s free-kick wide after 15 minutes.

Owen then headed the ball down for Matt Dinsmore to unleash a drive that was tipped over by Behcet. City’s goal came just seconds after they had escaped going behind when Joe Gatting crashed Paul Watson’s corner against Danny McDonnell’s crossbar.

The visitors promptly went up the other end and won a flag-kick of their own, from which Price swung over an enticing delivery and Barnes arrived unmarked to head home.

Adaggio might have doubled City’s advantage two minutes before the break but Behcet was equal to the former Kidderminster Harriers trialist’s lofted effort.

As with the first-half, Bognor posed the more potent threat after the break but were wasteful in front of goal — both Gatting and Josh Dutton-Black miscuing at the vital moment.

Adaggio squandered the first of two good chances to end Bognor’s interest in the contest on 58 minutes when he sent the ball the wrong side of the post after Ryan Hill’s error had let him in.

Then, nine minutes later, the 20-year-old was denied by an excellent Behcet save as City pressed. In between, Price dipped a free-kick inches over the top of Bognor’s goal.

Keeper McDonnell, who missed the majority of last season with a shoulder injury, was fearless throughout with players sliding all around him and he demonstrated his bravery in a challenge with Gatting.

McDonnell watched as the same player sent a drive flashing wide 10 minutes from time but there was little he could do about Mick Jenkins’ side equaliser nine minutes later.

City’s defence, who had been solid in the previous 89 minutes, failed to deal with Watson’s deep free-kick and Jackson was left unmarked to nod the equaliser.

The reaction of Dryden and assistant Carl Heeley said it all.

However, there was still time for further drama. With a point looming large, Adaggio picked the ball up 20 yards from goal and drilled a sweet strike beyond Behcet to give City an opening day win.