WORCESTER City suffered a second successive 1-0 home defeat after losing against bottom club Stamford.
Jack Duffy’s goal early in the second half earned the visitors just a fourth league win of the season at Sixways Stadium.
Chris Cornes’ side have now lost their last three home games in the league dating back to Boxing Day.
The result leaves Worcester sit 10th in the Southern League Premier Central table, four points outside of the play-off places.
Stamford thought they had taken the lead after just five minutes only for Jack Duffy to see his close-range effort ruled out for offside.
The home side looked to respond to the early scare as Charlie Lutz saw his shot from distance deflect over the crossbar after he created space for a shot.
From the resulting corner, City captain Paul Downing directed a headed onto the top of the crossbar and behind.
The woodwork denied Worcester again soon after as Liam Lockett sat down a defender and fired a shot past the Stamford goalkeeper only for the ball to hit the inside of the post as a visiting defender hooked the loose ball clear off the line.
However, Stamford broke the deadlock two minutes after the break when Duffy bundled his way past Luke Rowe and finished past Sam Kane when one-on-one from six-yards out.
City searched for a leveller as Dan Sweeney controlled a pass on the edge of the box but could only shoot straight at the goalkeeper with the outside of his boot.
The home side almost conceded a second goal when a mix-up between Downing and Kane allowed the ball to bounce in the penalty area.
Kane stumbled to the ground as he attempted to scramble back to his line but managed to push the ball against Leon Lobjoit and out for a goal kick.
City applied plenty of late pressure but could not find a way through as Rowe curled a shot wide of goal from 25-yards out in what proved the home side’s final chance.
