WORCESTER City slipped to a 2-1 defeat away at play-off rivals Anstey Nomads as the club’s three-game unbeaten run came to an end.
City drew level just before half time courtesy of Charlie Wise’s strike after Leo Brown’s early goal opened the scoring for the home side at Cropston Road.
However, Jacob Fenton restored Anstey’s lead just before the hour mark with the visitors unable to find a leveller.
The result means Worcester sit fourth in the Northern Premier League Midlands table, six points clear of the chasing pack in the race for a play-off place.
In a bizarre opening to the game, Anstey goalkeeper Conrad Logan miscued a clearance high into the air which ended up at the feet of Jordan Lymn who sent a dangerous ball into the box from the right which Logan punched to safety.
However, Anstey broke the deadlock on 14 minutes when Brown poked home from close range after Fenton pounced on some slack defending from Hayden Reeves to square the ball to the striker.
And City goalkeeper Dan Moore then made a fine reaction save to turn Jordan Annable’s header from a corner behind for another set-piece.
The visitors were left furious with the officials soon after when Wise went down in the box clutching his face only for the referee to wave away Worcester’s protests.
City equalised three minutes before half time when Adam Mace sent a hanging cross into the box and Reeves competed with Logan for the high ball which bounced onto the post before Wise finished into an empty net from close range.
And Worcester almost completed the turnaround after the break as Dylan Hart guided Felix Miles’ corner towards goal only for Logan to produce a fingertip save.
Miles then spurned a glorious chance to put City ahead as he blazed over at the back post from six-yards out following some head tennis in the Anstey penalty area.
However, the home side reclaimed the lead on 58 minutes as Brown played the ball across the box to Fenton who coolly picked out the left corner of the goal.
The visitors almost drew level soon after as Miles delivered a dangerous free-kick into the box from the left only for Logan to hold substitute Sopuruchukwu Obieri’s tame effort.
Anstey had a chance to seal the points when the home side pounced on a poor clearance from Moore as Fenton lashed a shot over the bar when one-on-one.
At the other end, Miles tried his luck from a free-kick 25-yards from goal as veteran stopper Logan made another save diving to his right.
The visitors felt they should have had a penalty late on when Obieri went down in the box only for the referee to award a free-kick to the home side.
Worcester are next in action against Coventry Sphinx on Saturday, March 15 with kick-off at 3pm at Claines Lane.
