WORCESTER City's hearts were broken last night as Altrincham ended their distant Nationwide North play-off hopes with a bad-tempered 2-0 victory at Moss Lane.

The Robins floored Andy Preece's weary side with strikes from Kirk Hilton and Colin Little after Adam Webster failed to convert a first-half penalty.

Defeat means City are unable to overtake fifth-placed Kettering, who triumphed 2-1 at Stalybridge Celtic, although Altrincham are still within reach of the Rockingham Road outfit with three games to go.

Worcester's night began badly when an M6 motorway smash led to the team coach arriving in Cheshire 20 minutes before kick-off and without a pre-match warm-up.

It worsened on the pitch as Webster missed from the spot and a couple of crucial decisions favoured Altrincham, most notably the absence of a second penalty when Hilton sent Webster sprawling.

With plenty at stake, Preece and assistant Andy Morrison vented their frustration at officials, while the duo held an ugly touch-line feud with the home side's management team.

Altrincham took advantage of sloppy marking for their goals and once Little prodded home the decisive second, City threw caution to the wind without making any considerable impact.

Preece said: "We didn't defend well enough at times. Our defending has been really good of late and it's the first time we have conceded two goals for about 12 games. But this time, it wasn't as good as it should have been.

"Crucial decisions went against us but they do not detract from the game. I don't think we can say we deserved to win. With Kettering winning, it probably would not have mattered if we had won."

Worcester's penalty was awarded on 35 minutes when George Melling deliberately handled George Clegg's fierce drive.

Merseyside referee John Stokes refused to card Melling and goalkeeper Stuart Coburn saved Webster's penalty low to his right.

Stokes then waved play on as Hilton cynically tripped Webster inside the box.

Tempers boiled over as Rob Warner earned a booking for dissent, while Barry Woolley and Jai Stanley were guilty of rash challenges.

Alty kept their cool to pinch the lead before half-time, Hilton nipping in unmarked to score from close range after Gary Talbot flicked on a long throw-in.

Hero goalkeeper Coburn came up trumps again on 63 minutes to tip Woolley's superb downward header around the post. Little's killer strike arrived soon after but not without controversy.

Sprightly sub Lewis Chalmers fouled Paul Carty and, in the resulting move, sprinted down the right flank before finding striker Little who struck home from six yards.

City: McDonnell 6, Warner 6 (Colley 75), Hines 6, *Carty 7, Heeley 6 (Preece 65, 6), Woolley 6, Clegg 6, Snape 6, Kelly 6, Webster 6, Stanley 6 (Warmer 82). Subs not used: McDonald, Smith.

Attendance: 547.

Meanwhile, City play Stourbridge in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Cup final at Kidderminster Harriers tonight.