WORCESTER City have been relegated from the Vanarama National League North after suffering a 4-2 defeat to champions AFC Fylde.

The Blue and Whites needed to better Gainsborugh Trinity’s result at FC United of Manchester United to stay up.

Ebby Nelson-Addy opened the scoring in the first minute and Tyler Weir made it 2-2 with a penalty at the start of the second period to give Worcester hope.

But goals from Matt Blinkhorn, Danny Rowe, Andy Bond and Richie Baker condemned City to their first relegation in 32 years.

Worcester started the day one point adrift of safety having slipped into the drop zone following last Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Salford City.

Captain Danny Jackman was recalled to the starting line-up and the experienced full-back Andy Gallinagh was brought in, replacing the injured James Chambers.

Worcester, who were without striker Kuda Muskwe, got off to the best possible start, scoring after just one minute.

Jordan Keane floated the ball in for Nelson-Addy who brought it under control. And after Rhys Taylor saved his shot, the ball squirmed loose for the midfielder to poke in the rebound.

Fylde’s players were given a guard of honour by the visitors, but it took them a while before they got into their stride.

Blinkhorn dragged a shot wide after a lovely move and Josh Langley missed the target with a glancing header from a corner.

But they got the equaliser on 21 minutes when David Morgan’s fizzing delivery was swept home by Blinkhorn.

Fylde should have added a second moments later after Matt Hughes played a one-two with Dan Bradley, but the full-back failed to finish it off.

The league’s leading marksman Rowe did not see much of the ball in the opening stages, but he was gift wrapped a goal on the 35th minute.

Sam Oji’s pass went straight to Rowe who went clean through and fired past Vaughan for his 50th of the season.

It was a body blow for City who almost fell further behind as Vaughan denied Dan Bradley.

With Worcester trailing 2-1 and Gainsborough drawing 1-1 at FC United of Manchester, John Snape’s men were staring relegation in the face.

But they responded superbly after the break as Jordan Murphy was brought down by Taylor and Weir coolly dispatched the resultant penalty.

The leveller filled the away side with belief, but they conceded a third on 56 minutes. A cross to the back post picked out an unmarked Bond who netted from close range.

With Gainsborough losing at FC United, City knew an equaliser would see them move out of the drop zone on goal difference.

Cieron Keane fired over from the edge of the area before Nelson-Addy missed a glorious chance on 64 minutes. Murphy got to the byline and cut the ball back for Nelson-Addy who spooned his shot over the bar from eight yards.

Murphy was also guilty of spurning an opportunity as he failed to turn home Keane’s low cross in the final 10 minutes.

Worcester were throwing everything at Fylde, but they suffered a huge set back on 84 minutes.

After Hutchison was dispossessed, City were outnumbered at the back and the hosts showed no mercy as Blinkhorn laid the ball to Baker to score their fourth.

Murphy was thwarted by Taylor late on, but there was no way back for Worcester as the referee’s final whistle signalled an end to their long stay in the sixth tier.