STUDLEY were beaten 3-2 by visitors Lichfield City, who struck in the last minute to win Saturday’s Midland League Division One encounter.
The defeat, in which Karl King and Andy Nicol (penalty) netted for the unfortunate hosts, was the Bees’ third in four matches in what has been a tough run of fixtures and leaves them fifth in the table.
Matters get no easier for Keith Draper’s side this weekend as they travel to leaders and big-spending title favourites Walsall Wood on Saturday.
The Black Country side’s 3-2 victory at Paget Rangers on Saturday took them top of the pile with games in hand and leaves them in pole position to claim the title on the back of a series of thumping wins.
Studley could count themselves extremely unlucky to lose to Lichfield, who triumphed in Jay Hawkins’ first game in charge thanks to a late goal from Chris Hanna, who drilled home the visitors’ only real chance of the second half.
Lichfield defended resolutely, but in reality the Bees wasted a series of chances to put a dramatic game to bed.
The home side got off to a flying start as King’s neat finish from the edge of the box opened the scoring, but goals from Jordan Lewis and Alex Keating put the visitors ahead before Nicol’s penalty following a clumsy challenge restored parity by half time.
Studley were dominant but profligate in the second half as Lichfield keeper Adam Jenkins impressed before the sucker punch arrived in the dying moments.
