In the opening four minutes, Harborough had the first attacking effort of the day when a block from a cut-back allowed the hosts an early corner, which was cleared with ease by City.

As the contest entered the tenth minute, Harborough grew into the match and were limiting City’s touches of the ball.

Just shy of the twenty-minute mark, City had their first attacking phase of the contest when Charlie Lutz broke down the left-hand side but failed to keep the ball in play.

Twenty-three minutes in and Harborough took the lead courtesy of Terell Pennant, after the forward struck a fine effort from range, firing low into the bottom left corner to put the second-placed side a goal up.

City almost levelled immediately after a great throw from Harry Burns found Matt Richards in space, whose effort was tipped over by the Harborough keeper as the match remained 1-0 to the hosts.

Harborough came close just before half-time to doubling their lead when midfielder Adil Nabi struck an effort from outside the area which flew just wide of the far post, as the hosts went into the break with a slender 1-0 lead.

Fifteen minutes into the second half and City continued to win duels and several set pieces against the hosts.

With sixty-six minutes on the clock, City looked to push for an equaliser in a game which had produced very few clear-cut efforts for either side.

City had a couple of chances to try and level the game with over ten minutes left in the fixture after earning a number of set-piece opportunities.

As the match approached injury time, City began moving the ball around in search of a late leveller, with Connor Stanley becoming the focal point of the play.

Despite two late corners, with goalkeeper Sam Kane going up for both, City were unable to level the match and fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat.

Worcester return to league action next Saturday with Barwell visiting Sixways, as City look to build on the 2-0 win in the reverse fixture.

Match report by Harry Wilcox.