WORCESTER City’s wait for an away victory goes on as their decent run of form was stopped in its tracks with a 2-0 defeat at Stockport County.

City, who have now picked up just two points from five matches on the road, battled throughout at Edgeley Park but were undone by first-half strikes from Scott Spencer and Kristian Dennis.

From then on it was an uphill task but City, who have also failed to score on their travels this season, refused to buckle and hit the post through Danny Jackman before the break.

Graham Hutchison also went close with the score at 1-0, while Daniel Nti drew a save from Danny Hurst as the visitors piled forward late on.

Worcester’s cause was not helped by the absence of an injured Mike Symons and Nick Wright struggled in his stead.

There were lively substitute appearances for Connor Gudger, Daniel Udoh and David McDermott but Tristan Dunkey, who scored the second in Saturday’s victory over Chorley, was not in the squad.

Wayne Thomas was also immense at the back, while Jackman toiled in vain against his former club.

The game came to life in the 16th minute following a defensive slip from the visitors. A throw from the left was not dealt with and Spencer escaped the clutches of Graham Hutchison before sweeping the loose ball past Nathan Vaughan.

City, who had won three of their previous four games, sought an immediate response and Hutchison went close with a header from Jackman’s corner.

Worcester continued to probe, moving the ball with purpose, but were seldom able to penetrate the Stockport defence.

They almost came unstuck when another quick throw caused panic in the six-yard box and it needed Thomas to slide in and clear the danger.

But all the visitors’ hard work in trying to get back in the game was undone from Jamie Milligan’s 37th minute corner. The County captain whipped the ball into the box and Dennis reacted quickest to get across his marker and glance an excellent header past Vaughan.

Jackman hit the post with a free-kick four minutes before the break as City kept plugging away. But it was the hosts who made a strong start to the second-half.

Spencer had a chance to make it three just past the hour mark but he skewed his effort wide.

Manager Carl Heeley tried to change his side’s fortunes by bringing on the pace of Udoh and Gudger in place of a frustrated Wright and Sean Geddes. It put County on the back foot but still Worcester couldn’t find a way through.

McDermott and Gudger combined for the latter to pick out the run of George Williams, only for the right-back to side foot wide.

Vaughan then flung himself to his left to push aside Dennis’ free-kick to deny the Hatters a third and Nti brought an acrobatic block out of Hurst in the closing stages.

City: Vaughan 6, Williams 7, Weir 7, Hutchison 7, Thomas 8*, Jackman 7, Nti 6, Deeney 6, Wright 6 (Udoh 63, 6), Geddes 6 (Gudger 63, 6), Gater (6 McDermott 72). Subs not used: Veiga, Lemon.

Attendance: 2,448.