RELEGATION remains on the minds of Worcester City’s frustrated players after they threw away a great chance to put themselves on the brink of safety in Vanarama National League North.

At 4.40pm on Saturday, a brilliant brace from Lee Hughes appeared to be enough to secure battling Worcester another vital three points in their quest to avoid the drop.

But, when the clock struck 4.50pm, the veteran striker and his team-mates had their heads in their hands as Stockport County timed their comeback to perfection.

Chris Smalley bagged the equaliser with nine minutes to go before John Marsden slotted home the winner late on to make it 3-2.

With many of the teams below them also dropping points, though, City only slipped one place to 15th with four points separating them from the relegation area.

But, considering Worcester were 12th and seven points clear of third-from-bottom Lowestoft Town at half-time having edged 2-1 ahead, this will feel like a glaring opportunity missed.

One win will probably be enough to banish any fears of relegation this season and, with Hughes on song, City will be confident of wrapping that up pretty quickly.

The former West Bromwich Albion striker struck twice in his side’s 3-1 victory over Bradford Park Avenue last Tuesday and he was at it again at Aggborough.

When Paul Connolly rolled the ball back to goalkeeper Dean Henderson, many opposing players approaching 40 would have conserved their energy and let him clear his lines.

But Hughes is no ordinary 39-year-old and, to Henderson’s surprise, his kick cannoned off the onrushing forward and into the back of the net to give City the lead inside four minutes.

Worcester also welcomed back another experienced player in Wayne Thomas, who had recovered from a back problem.

The 36-year-old centre-back got stronger as the game wore on but he was caught out on 19 minutes when he failed to clear Danny Morton’s cross and Kayodi Odejayi headed in the leveller.

Another returnee for City was talented midfielder Shaun Donnellan and it was his sublime long-distance pass which set Hughes up for his second.

The ex-Premier League frontman broke free of Stockport’s defence before cutting inside and rifling the ball into the top corner on 39 minutes.

Hughes was now on a mission to complete his hat-trick but, as much as he tried, he could not force home a third which would have virtually clinched Worcester victory.

Jordan Murphy was also handed a great opportunity to put the match to bed but he could only fire the ball straight at Henderson.

Stockport, who clipped the top of City’s crossbar with a Sean O’Hanlon header in the first half, always looked dangerous and the pressure finally told.

Captain-for-the-day Nathan Vaughan and in-form centre back Alex Gudger had done well to keep Worcester in front but they could do nothing to deny Smalley, who stabbed the ball home from close range.

With Marsden given more of a free role in the second period, City struggled to pick him up and he made them pay.

Jamie Menagh slipped the ball through to Marsden, who calmly tucked his shot away to leave the hosts with that sinking feeling again.