WORCESTER City were taught a lesson in attacking football as their away day woes continued on the Lancashire coast with a 4-0 defeat at AFC Fylde.

Goals from Richie Allen, Josh Langley and Michael Barnes gave the league leaders an unassailable 3-0 half-time lead before Allen added a fourth seven minutes from time.

In stark contrast to free-scoring AFC Fylde, who had struck 24 goals in nine matches prior to kick-off, Carl Heeley’s side have now not hit the target in six away games.

Fylde also have a miserly defence and, with main target man Mike Symons still out injured, it was down to Daniel Nti to try to find a route to goal but he struggled against centre-halves Langley and Tom Hannigan.

Midfielder Steven Leslie, who left Worcester in March to emigrate to Australia, made a surprise start for the visitors having rejoined the club. Connor Gudger earned his first start but fellow midfielder Connor Gater was absent with an ankle injury.

Captain Ellis Deeney had the first shot on target inside five minutes, his 35-yard effort brilliantly saved by Ben Hinchliffe at full stretch.

But three minutes later Allen scored his first when he found a way through three defenders, cutting inside from the left, to unleash a shot which flew under keeper Nathan Vaughan and into the bottom left corner.

Despite the early setback, City regrouped and almost equalised two minutes later when Graham Hutchison headed Deeney’s free-kick inches over the Fylde bar.

From that moment on, Fylde dominated proceedings and eventually grabbed their second in the 16th minute. Danny Rowe fired a blistering shot against the post which then bounced behind off the back of Vaughan’s head for a corner.

But City failed to clear the flag-kick further than 12 yards and Langley was on hand to blast the ball into the roof of the net.

It got even worse for the visitors as Barnes made a jinking run from the right and fired low past Vaughan into the bottom corner from just inside the area.

The introduction of Jacob Rowe and David McDermott steadied the ship in the second-half for the Blue and Whites and they began to come more into the game and attack Fylde.

Tyler Weir was at the heart of most moves and, after Michael Potts had hit the bar with a 50-yard wonder strike for the hosts, Weir unleashed a bullet from 25 yards which former Worcester keeper Hinchliffe pushed over.

McDermott went close with ten minutes to go but Allen compounded City’s misery by adding his side’s fourth with a comfortable strike.

Wayne Thomas and Hutchison had opportunities to grab a consolation but sent their headers over and wide late on.