WORCESTER City’s play-off hopes took a blow following a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Leiston with the game’s only goal scored in the opening few minutes.
City succumbed to Willie Clemons’ strike after just three minutes at Victory Road with City winless in their last three away matches.
The result means Worcester sit ninth in the Southern League Premier Central table, six points outside of the play-off places.
Worcester almost made the perfect start when Connor Stanley intercepted Fraser Alexander’s stray pass as he curled a shot inches over the crossbar.
However, the game’s decisive moment arrived on three minutes when Clemons acrobatically turned home Jack Manly’s corner from the left.
City goalkeeper Sam Kane then had to acrobatically push Ronnie Blois’s swerving effort from distance behind for a corner.
The visitors went close at the other end as Charlie Wise saw his header cleared off the line by Alexander moments before the break.
Leiston spurned a golden chance to double their lead after the break as Kane superbly denied Joao Rangel when one-on-one after substitute Jude Frostick broke clear.
At the other end, a long throw from the left caused an almighty scramble in the box with City unable to seriously trouble the Leiston goal.
Worcester are next in action against Needham Market on Saturday, March 28 with kick-off at 3pm at Sixways Stadium.
