Christmas cheer was in short supply as Worcester City fell to a late goal in a 2-1 defeat to Halesowen Town at Sixways on Boxing Day in the Southern League Premier Central.

It took just under five minutes for the opening goal, which came for the visitors through Jason Cowley following a Halesowen Town set piece, with City feeling the decision was a dubious offside call. City looked to respond minutes later from a corner which trickled narrowly past the outside of the post, as the score remained 1-0.

City came inches from levelling the game twelve minutes in when Harry Burns struck a thunderbolt from outside the area which crashed against the underside of the crossbar before bouncing back into play and into a defender’s path.

Burns again came close to an equaliser when a threaded pass into the winger was curled just past the post, as City continued to hunt for a leveller.

Thirty minutes in, City were still pushing for an equaliser, however chances were few and far between as the tempo of the game began to drop.

On the forty-minute mark, City had two penalty shouts waved away as they looked to force a way back into the contest. The half ended with Halesowen holding a slender 1-0 lead at the break.

After the interval, City remained on the front foot as Worcester searched for a goal in the cold Midlands weather.

In the 62nd minute, City did grab a deserved equaliser through Charlie Lutz, firing home after a squared pass into his path as the momentum swung entirely.

As the match entered the final twenty minutes, Worcester City began to dominate possession and, with the Sixways crowd as loud as ever, pushed for a second goal.

City came agonisingly close in the 75th minute when Dan Sweeney was left unmarked at the back post, but his header was parried to safety by Halesowen goalkeeper Daniel Platt.

In the 84th minute, Halesowen retook the lead after a powerful header from Ty Barnett from a corner, leaving City searching for another equaliser once again.

City continued to push for a late leveller, however it was not enough, as the full-time whistle blew with Halesowen taking the three points in a 2-1 defeat for City.

Worcester City return to Southern League Premier Central action on Saturday 3rd January with a visit to local rivals Redditch United.

Match Report by Harry Wilcox