WORCESTER City missed the chance to secure their Vanarama National League North status for next season after they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of lowly Lowestoft Town tonight.

City squandered an early lead to come away from the Suffolk coast empty-handed but remain five points clear of the drop zone with two games left after fellow strugglers Brackley Town and AFC Telford United drew 0-0.

The visitors made one change to the side who suffered a 3-1 defeat at Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday as Nathan Vaughan returned in goal.

With the stakes high and the table tight at the bottom, neither side could afford to make mistakes but after just four minutes the Blues gifted the lead to City when Ben Killip failed to clear a bouncing back-pass.

The on-loan Norwich City keeper sliced his clearance to Lee Hughes, who calmly rolled the ball into the back of the net.

After a nightmare start, alarm bells were ringing for Lowestoft but six minutes later Danny Crow levelled.

He steered the ball past Vaughan, who spilt Joe Marsden’s shot at the feet of the former Cambridge striker following a curling ball into the area from Rossi Jarvis.

City responded well, winning the game's first corner after 16 minutes, with Lowestoft struggling to deal with the experienced front duo of Hughes and Kyle Perry.

Neither side could enjoy a sustained spell of pressure in a scrappy first half but a mistake from Wayne Thomas almost proved costly for Worcester after 39 minutes.

The defender lost track of Andrew Fisk inside the City half, allowing the midfielder in behind, but Harry Barker's long ball over the top was a fraction too heavy.

Worcester started the second half slowly as Lowestoft had their best spell but, as the game developed, the visitors caused problems with a series of excellent counter-attacking moves.

Lowestoft struggled to deal with Perry all night and the striker had City’s best chance to win the game.

Jordan Murphy was allowed time and space to pick him out inside the six-yard box after 74 minutes but the striker headed the ball into the ground when he really should have worked Killip.

The miss proved costly for Matt Gardiner's and Carl Heeley’s side as, with 81 minutes on the clock, Connor Deeks flicked the ball over the top of two defenders before firing past Vaughan to give Town a vital three points in their bid to beat the drop.

Fifteenth-placed City, who visit Telford on Saturday, received their 12th red card of the season late on when Dan Nti was dismissed for two bookings.

Hednesford Town joined rock-bottom Corby Town in being relegated due to Lowestoft's win and Brackley slid into the bottom three.

City: Vaughan 7, Minihan 6 (Morris 22, 5), Gudger 7, Sharpe 6, Thomas 6, Jackman 5 (Smith 84), Nti 4, Murphy 5, Perry 7, Gater 7, HUGHES 8. Subs not used: McDonald, Ross, Webb.

Lowestoft: Killip, Barker, Smith, Fisk, Spillane, Jarvis, Marsden, Deeks, Jarvis, Crow, Henderson. Subs not used: Nyadzayo, Putnins, Mason, Bishop, Reed.

Attendance: 508.