WORCESTER City suffered back-to-back home defeats for the first time this season after losing 1-0 against Banbury United.
A second-half goal from Connor Ferguson condemned City to defeat in their first home game of the New Year at Sixways Stadium.
The result means Worcester sit eighth in the Southern League Premier Central table, two points outside of the play-off places.
City went close early on as Harry Burns hurled a long throw into the box from the left and Charlie Wise saw his looping header tipped over the crossbar by Banbury goalkeeper Jack Harding.
The visitors responded with a chance at the other end as Ferguson turned neatly on the edge of the penalty area and saw his effort clawed to safety by City’s debutant stopper Sam Kane.
And the away side spurned a golden chance to take the lead from a corner as Ferguson somehow headed wide when left unmarked five-yards from goal.
The teams continued to trade chances as Dan Sweeney’s initial shot deflected into the path of Nathan Hayward who fired wide from 10-yards out.
Banbury went close after the break as Peter Abimbola curled a shot inches past the post from just inside the penalty area.
City missed a gilt-edged chance soon after when Shay Palmer controlled a long pass on his chest and cut inside two defenders in the box only to curl a shot well wide from 10-yards out with only the keeper to beat.
And the home side went close again when Charlie Lutz saw his goalbound effort deflect inches over the crossbar with the goalkeeper at full stretch.
Banbury stopper Harding then held Lutz’s acrobatic effort from inside the box before the game’s decisive moment arrived.
Ferguson received a pass on the right wing before cutting in and curling a low effort into the net via the aid of the post on 77 minutes from the right-hand side of the penalty area.
City almost grabbed a late equaliser as Kyle Belmonte lashed a shot narrowly past the post from 25-yards out.
