YORK City are staring relegation in the face after a second-half collapse saw the Minstermen fall to a 3-1 defeat to AFC Fylde.

An early strike from Joe Westley set the tone for the Coasters, before Will Smith powered York level when heading home a corner kick.

But an impressive long-ranged effort from Ash Hunter, paired by a composed strike by Jon Ustabasi meant that a potentially pivotal match in York’s challenge for safety went to waste.

City now find themselves in a concerning 22nd position in the Vanarama National League, dropping down a further place after Woking secured a late winner in a 2-1 triumph over Kidderminster Harriers

Goal difference means that York are above Kidderminster in the table, with next Saturday’s visit to the Harriers potentially a season-defining clash.

Adam Hinshelwood was taking charge of his second  match as City boss after replacing Neal Ardley last week, and also his second home match after a 3-2 defeat to Wealdstone on Saturday.

But after marking one week at the football club, Hinshelwood has so far been unable to immediately change City’s fortunes, who could make a return to regional football just two seasons after gaining promotion from the Vanarama National League North, unless results improve.

Hinshelwood opted to make four changes from the York side that were defeated 3-2 on Saturday by Wealdstone, which included a return to the line-up for Ryan Fallowfield after suffering a concussion ten days ago at Barnet.

Also back involved were Smith, Alex Woodyard and Finlay Barnes, with Tyler Cordner, Michael Duckworth, Charlie Allen and Danny Amos all missing from the starting eleven.

Hinshelwood elected to use McLaughlin at left-back in a flat back four, as the Minstermen lined up in the same 4-3-3 that had been used three days prior.

AFC Fylde made the decision to remain unchanged from their 4-1 victory over Maidenhead United at the weekend, which included starts for danger men Nick Haughton, Danny Ormerod and Jon Ustabasi.

Recent form of Fylde suggested that they were more than capable of finding the back of the net, having scored 18 goals in their last seven matches, despite their league position.

And that quickly came to fruition when the Coasters took an early advantage just four minutes in.

A dangerous run from Ustabasi allowed the winger to pull the ball back into the path of Westley, who positioned himself well to flick an effort past Sykes-Kenworthy and to give the visitors the lead.

It was almost two for Fylde with ten minutes played, as the Coasters looked to profit from a slow York start with Ustabasi again racing into a prominent area before floating a strike narrowly over the crossbar.

City won’t have been happy with the start they had made, but were keen to make the most of an early corner after an error from Fylde left-back Max Conway.

And that they did, as Barnes delivered a teasing cross directly onto the head of an onrushing Smith, powering a header past Theo Richardson with York back on level terms.

Fylde nearly put themselves back ahead with Ustabasi continuing to cause problems, picking out youngster Danny Ormerod who forced Sykes-Kenworthy into an incredible stop, tipping the effort onto the post.

Smith nearly netted his second when testing Richardson from within the box, before Will Davies almost found a way through when capping off a well-worked attack, only to be denied again by Richardson.

With half-time approaching and there being encouraging signs for the Minstermen, it took a monumental effort to keep Fylde out after an initial Haughton free-kick was tipped wide, before Conway was only kept out by a goal line clearance from Howe.

The second-half saw City make a half-time change, with Amos replacing Barnes, before the left-back would then have to come off just nine minutes later through a suspected knee injury himself.

But before Amos was substituted off, York did produce an opportunity with Batty stinging the gloves of Richardson on the volley, whilst Sykes-Kenworthy made a routine stop in denying Westley from the edge of the area.

City weren’t the only side making changes, with Fylde opting to bring on Hunter to counter York’s attacking look.

And the substitute would go on to have an immediate impact, putting the Coasters back ahead after being fed the ball by Ustabasi, before curling an impressive finish into the top right corner.

York looked to immediately respond with a well-worked corner routine that fell into the path of Allen, but the Leeds United loanee could only scuff a strike into a crowd of bodies.

Sykes-Kenworthy was forced into a routine stop from a tame Ustabasi strike, before the Coasters would go onto settle in a crucial win in their fight for survival, condemning York to second bottom of the National League.

A mistake from Smith allowed Ustabasi to break down the right-wing, before cutting inside from the byline and delicately chipping a strike over the onrushing Sykes-Kenworthy, seeing the LNER fall into a disappointed quiet.

A frustrating night for City sees Hinshelwood’s men drop deeper into the relegation zone, with next Saturday’s trip to Kidderminster Harriers (3pm) now a crucial clash in their push for safety.

York City: Sykes-Kenworthy 5, Fallowfield 6, Smith 7, Howe 6, McLaughlin 7, Woodyard 6, Batty 7, Barnes (Amos 46, (Allen 6, 55), Akinyemi 6, Chadwick 5, Davies 6

Subs not used: Duckworth, Hunt, John-Lewis

Goal: Smith (15)

AFC Fylde: Richardson, Barratt (Hosannah, 65), Davis, Graham, Conway, Ustabasi, Adshead, Mitchell, Haughton (Whitehead, 79), Westley (Hunter, 58), Ormerod

Subs not used: Long, Walker

Goals: Westley (4), Hunter (62), Ustabasi (73)

Yellow cards: Barratt (64)

York’s star man: Dan Batty. Linked a lot of play together, worked hard and often attempted to move play forward.

Referee: Richard Eley

Attendance: 4433 (93)

Shots (on target): 2 (3) | 4 (7)

Corners:  3 | 4

Offsides: 1 | 1

Fouls committed: 17 | 8