BRINGING down the curtain on 2018-19 was a “reality check” for Worcester City – and assistant boss Ashley Vincent insists “next season has to be better”.

Hopes that City would summon the spirit that bagged four points from their previous two games in an otherwise-uninspiring end to a mid-table campaign were ended in little more than half an hour on Saturday.

Highgate United made off from the Victoria Ground with a 3-0 victory on the final day of the Midland Football League season, a result that saw City finish 11th – two points ahead of a place in the bottom six.

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Vincent, in charge in the absence of manager John Snape, acknowledged his charges had been short of their best from the off with goals from McCauley Manning, Lei Brown and ex-Worcester hitman Marco Adaggio doing the damage before the interval.

Both Manning and Brown were gifted time and space to pick their spot within minutes of each other before Adaggio found room to turn and fire past retiring City keeper Sam Gilder with 32 minutes on the clock.

The hosts offered little at either end of the pitch with the only half chance of the first half falling to Joe Bates whose shot found the car park.

Some 71 minutes had been played before City forced a corner, and even the introduction of Liam Lockett and Jordan Harrison did little to change the home side’s fortunes with both teams seemingly content to play out the game without incident.

Lockett’s 75th minute free-kick was tipped over by United keeper Brad Catlow and turned out to be City’s only shot on target.

“It was over by half-time,” admitted Vincent.

“We tried to rev them up like we have in the past couple of games but it was probably a game too much in terms of the work rate.

“It was the typical foot-of-the-gas, end-of-season game and we got punished for that mentality.

“We just didn’t turn up which for me was the really disappointing thing.  

“It was more of a reality check for me, the club and the players. We have not been good enough and it is not acceptable.

“Me and the gaffer are full of pride and like to behave in a certain way. Taking ability out of it, we want to show the work ethic and maybe along the line the boys have put it into the wrong areas more than not trying.”

Vincent stopped short of suggesting City had not tried but pulled no punches in his assessing his first campaign with the club.

“It has been a massive learning curve for me personally and I would like to thank John (Snape) and players for all of the hard work put in this season,” he added.

“The reality is that next season has to be better, for me and from me. We have to set our standards even higher and actually reach them.

“The club and our personal ambitions and pride are at a higher level than we have showed this season and that includes all of us, me as well.”

City: Gilder 6 (Gwynne, 60, 6), Caines 5, Weir 6.5, English 5.5, McFarlane 5, Hall 6, Birley 5, (Lockett, 50, 6.5), Attoumani 6.5, Bates 5.5, EVANS 7* (Harrison, 70, 6), Lemon 5.5. Unused subs: Moran, Baldwin.

Attendance: 291.