WORCESTER City's long wait for a second National League North win continued after conceding from two first-half set-pieces in a 2-1 defeat at Alfreton Town.

Although Lee Hughes reduced the arrears midway through the second period, it was too little to rescue City whose last victory came against Lowestoft Town in the second week of the campaign.

Alfreton made the perfect start, taking the lead after just eight minutes. A corner was only half-cleared and Ryan Wilson steered a glorious 25-yard effort beyond goalkeeper Dan Lloyd-Weston.

The visitors had a good chance to level six minutes later when Dean Waldron, making his first start of the season, charged upfield but chose to ignore strike pair Lee Hughes and Shaun Harrad and try his luck with a shot that was blocked by a defender, Hughes finally looping the rebound high over the crossbar.

Lloyd-Weston was having a torrid time and he was found out again when Alfreton defender Tom Allan rose above him only to head over the crossbar.

On 22 minutes, the City keeper was lurking in no man’s land when a free-kick was headed back into the area by Allan for Jordan Robertson to scramble over the line.

Dan Nti should have reduced the arrears ten minutes later from the penalty spot having been flung to the ground by Niall Heaton. But his kick was directed straight at keeper Matt Duke with Harrad heading the rebound over.

There was nearly a third for the home side when Jamie Jackson just failed to connect with Robertson’s low cross and Lloyd-Weston’s miserable half ended with a yellow card for handling outside the area.

Worcester brought on Ashley Vincent and Deon Burton early in the second-half and they began to create chances.

Hughes went close on the hour with a header but was denied by an excellent Duke save.

But the veteran striker did find the net on 69 minutes, steering the ball home from close range following a well-worked Burton free-kick.

Worcester saw plenty of the ball in the final stages but Alfreton went closest to addiing to the scorline when a Jordan Robertson shot was blocked by keeper Lloyd-Weston’s legs.

City: Lloyd-Weston 4, Minihan 5, Gudger 6, Morris 7, Sharpe 6, Waldron 6 (Geddes 77, 5), Nti 5 Vincent 51, 5), Deeney 7, HUGHES 7, Harrad 5 (Burton 60, 6), Jackman 5. Subs (not used): Gater, Smith.