WORCESTER City hover dangerously above the National League North relegation zone after a frustrating 2-1 home defeat to Brackley Town tonight.

They got off to the worst possible start as Lee Ndlovu floated home a header inside the opening two minutes.

Stand-in skipper Tyler Weir equalised from the spot but Matthew Barnes-Homer’s goal midway through the second half secured Brackley all three points.

City remain outside the bottom three on goal difference as relegation rivals Gainsborough Trinity lost 2-1 at Halifax Town.

After Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Boston United caretaker boss John Snape made five changes to his City side.

Keeper Ethan Ross was dropped for the experienced Nathan Vaughan who rejoined City last month.

But his first action was to pick the ball out of his own net. After a long ball into the box ex-City defender Alex Gudger flicked it on for Ndlovu whose looping header proved too good for Vaughan.

Fit-again Weir, Andy Gallinagh, Pa Sulay Njie and Tom Rose were also brought into the team but struggled to get a touch as Brackley bossed the early exchanges.

But City levelled on 21 minutes when Ebby Nelson-Addy forced his way into the box before being bundled over by Gareth Dean.

Weir stepped up to calmly stroke home the penalty.

The goal gave City a much-needed boost but they looked vulnerable on the counter-attack.

They needed Vaughan in the final 10 minutes of the first half.

The keeper saved a low shot from David Moyo before stopping Gudger from forcing the ball home from close range.

City made a bright start to the second period but lacked cutting edge in attack as Jordan Keane’s shot from distance was saved by Laurie Walker.

The away keeper was perhaps fortunate to stay on the pitch after tripping Rose on the edge of the area while Brackley’s defence sprinted back.

But he was shown a yellow card and Cieron Keane blazed over the free-kick.

At the other end Shane Byrne also missed the target with a free-kick.

There was little between the teams but Brackley edged ahead on 68 minutes.

Moyo got beyond Jordan Keane before cutting the ball inside for an unmarked Barnes-Homer.

The former Kidderminster Harriers striker’s shot was saved by Vaughan but he made no mistake with the follow-up, tucking the ball away.

City pushed but the final ball let them down although sub Jordan Murphy’s looping header was easily gathered by Walker.

City (4-4-2): Vaughan; Gallinagh, Sharpe, Hutchison, Weir; Nelson-Addy, J Keane, C Keane, Rose (Jackman 78); Njie (Murphy 59), English. Subs not used: Ross, Oji, Chambers.

Attendance: 321.

City man of the match: Tyler Weir.