WORCESTER City saw their winless run stretch to three matches after losing 3-1 away at AFC Rushden and Diamonds.
A quickfire double left City stunned at the break before Felix Miles reduced the deficit early in the second half at Hayden Road.
However, a late strike from Jamal Adams condemned City to defeat.
The result means Worcester sit fifth in the Northern Premier League Midlands table, seven points clear of the chasing pack in the race for a play-off spot.
Rushden broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark as Hayden Reeves inadvertently turned Ethan Johnston’s cross from the right into his own net.
And the home side doubled their lead four minutes later when Nathan Burrows rose highest to head in a corner from the right from six-yards out.
City halved the deficit on 53 minutes as Miles won back possession deep in the Rushden half before creating space for a shot and firing an effort into the bottom right corner from 20-yards out.
However, Rushden sealed the points four minutes from time when Reeves missed the ball as he attempted to clear and Adams pounced to roll a shot past Dan Moore from just inside the penalty area.
Worcester are next in action against Alvechurch in the Worcestershire Senior Cup final on Wednesday, April 9 with kick-off at 7.45pm at Malvern Town’s HDAnywhere Community Stadium.
