ON a day when one 39-year-old former Premier League striker finally hung up his boots, another showed no signs of slowing up.

Deon Burton may have received the biggest ovation at Aggborough on Saturday — and rightly so — when he left the field for the final time.

But it is his veteran strike partner Lee Hughes who arguably deserves most of the plaudits this season as his goals have been crucial in Worcester City’s fight for survival in Vanarama National League North.

Moments after Burton bid an emotional farewell, Hughes dispatched an 81st-minute penalty to secure City a 2-2 draw against AFC Fylde.

It capped off an impressive season for the former West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City front-man, who netted 18 times in 34 appearances.

Nine of those have come in the last 12 games and five have come in the final 10 minutes of matches when City needed them most.

With a record like that, Worcester will do well to keep hold of Hughes, who turns 40 next month, but they have certainly got their money’s worth.

Hughes’ goals have been a highlight of a turbulent campaign for manager Carl Heeley and his players.

A string of departures, a series of injury setbacks and a long list of red cards have no doubt hit Worcester hard this season.

But, as they proved against AFC Fylde, they are not a team to be underestimated as they once again went toe-to-toe with one of the league’s high-fliers.

Looking to give themselves a boost heading into the play-offs, the Lancashire side bossed the opening stages and deservedly went ahead on 31 minutes.

Tyler Weir had just gone close for City with an ambitious 45-yard attempted lob that Matt Urwin tipped over but from the resultant corner Fylde produced a devastating counter-attack.

Alex Gudger and Sam Minihan managed to scamper back to block Danny Rowe’s first attempt but he tapped in the follow-up to give his side the lead.

Rowe then added a second as James Hardy broke free before finding the striker unmarked to slot past Ethan Ross.

Matters did not look like improving in the second half as Ross denied Sam Finley and Richie Baker before Minihan blocked Danny Lloyd’s shot on the line after Matty Hughes weaved his way through City’s defence.

But the hosts hung on in there and gave themselves a lifeline when Dan Nti’s deflected shot beat Urwin on 67 minutes.

Fylde had already lost to City in January, with Nti getting the winner that day, and they were left frustrated again.

With nine minutes left, Lee Hughes scored from the spot after Caspar Hughes tugged his shirt in the area.

The late equaliser means City have lost just twice against teams in the top five, winning three and drawing five.

That is not a bad return for a side hovering three places above the relegation area and will give them something to build on as they look ahead to life at Bromsgrove Sporting’s Victoria Ground next season.