Harrogate Town 3 Worcester City 0

THE hole left by the departure of top scorer Lee Hughes was there for all to see as Worcester City’s winless run was extended to 12 games at Harrogate Town.

The Blues failed to demonstrate any cutting edge in a 3-0 defeat as they come to terms with life after their most influential attacking player.

Hughes netted 28 times in 48 appearances in a City shirt. While he marked his debut for new side AFC Telford United with a goal, by contrast John Snape’s men needed almost an hour of the game at the CNG Stadium before they could even conjure up a strike towards the hosts' goal.

Prior to that they had passed the ball tidily on a 3G playing surface that is conducive to good football but struggled to make any real incisions into an uncompromising home rearguard.

The opening exchanges saw City compete well enough but once they fell behind after 10 minutes they never really looked likely to get back into the game.

And the first goal of the day came all too easily for the hosts.

Warren Burrell slid a ball inside visiting left-back Tyler Weir who was then beaten for pace by Joe Colbeck down the right wing.

The latter’s low pass across the face of goal found Simon Ainge waiting at the back post to plant a first-time strike under the despairing dive of Ethan Ross.

But for a couple of dangerous balls into the box from left-winger Cieron Keane Worcester offered nothing by way of response before half-time.

Their cause wasn’t helped by losing Chekaine Steele to injury with just 23 minutes on the clock.

They could have fallen further behind in the 25th minute when Harrogate skipper Danny Ellis planted a free header well wide from just 10 yards out.

The second period began in similar fashion to the way that the first finished with little to get either side’s supporters out of their seats.

Trailing by just the one goal, City remained in with a shout until Ellis rose highest to power a Joe Leesley corner past Ross for a 2-0 lead in the 67th minute, not long after Louie Swain had hit the crossbar with a header of his own.

Kennedy Digie had struck the Blue and Whites’ first shot in anger in the 56th minute when his long-range attempt was deflected wide for a corner.

The same player threatened once again as Snape’s side created their best chance of the match.

With 20 minutes to go a neat passing move down the right saw Digie burst through on goal but he was foiled by a good save by Peter Crook at his near post.

Striker Swain then put the result beyond doubt with Town’s third of the day and although Cieron Keane saw a goalbound strike bravely blocked by Lewis Turner late on City ended the game having failed to score for the third time in their last four outings.