WORCESTER City’s Vanarama Conference North play-off hopes were dealt a blow as they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of North Ferriby United at Grange Lane.

The hosts dominated much of the game and followed Tom Denton’s first-half header with a stunning half-volley from Danny Clarke on the hour mark.

Danny Hone headed the hosts into a three-goal lead with 13 minutes remaining but only after Daniel Nti was sent off for a second booking following a late challenge on United’s Sam Topliss.

The win leaves City in 12th spot in the league having still only registered one win in 2015.

City carved out the first chance after a lacklustre opening 10 minutes when Sean Geddes’ floated free-kick was nodded over the bar by the tall figure of Aaron Brown.

But the hosts enjoyed the upper hand in the opening 20 minutes and threatened when Josh Wilde’s cross found Clarke, who fired a swivelling half-volley just wide of the mark.

Adam Boulder then unleashed a vicious half-volley that fizzed past the post moments later.

City continued to defend stubbornly and a superb last-ditch tackle from Wayne Thomas thwarted Liam King, who had the goal at his mercy after he latched onto Denton’s pinpoint through-ball.

United eventually broke the deadlock when the lively Jason St Juste floated a cross to the back post where the towering Denton steered a header goalwards that squeezed past a scrambling Jose Veiga at the near post after 33 minutes.

City nearly pulled level in the dying seconds of the first-half when the energetic Kyle Haynes’ low cross was deflected into the path of a full-stretch Nti, who could only prod the ball onto the outside of the post from close range.

City enjoyed more possession in the second period but failed to convert their territorial advantage into clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities.

United doubled their lead after 59 minutes when Denton, who caused City problems with his aerial prowess, nodded the ball to Clarke, who unleashed a sumptuous half-volley that arrowed into the corner of the net.

Things got worse for City 13 minutes later when Nti’s late tackle on United full-back Topliss was punished by a second yellow card, before Hone put the game beyond doubt when he headed home from Russell Fry’s corner after 77 minutes.

Veiga ensured the deficit didn’t increase when he acrobatically tipped substitute Curtis Bateson’s driven effort from distance past the post.

Bateson came close moments later when he jinked inside and struck a fierce drive that clipped the inside of the post before bouncing clear.