FECKENHAM suffered a third successive Midland League Division Two defeat as a clinical Northfield Town side secured a 3-2 victory at the Entaco on Saturday.
The Millers were left hugely disappointed to come away empty-handed against the fourth placed Birmingham side who remain undefeated in the league since the opening day of the season, but Aaron Blackwood’s side only had themselves to blame.
The hosts, who were still without Umit Eminoglu, Ben Ellicott and captain Danny Williams, handed a start at right back to 18-year-old Will Langston who was promoted from Spencer Stirling’s Reserves following a string of impressive performances.
Northfield took a 14th-minute lead thanks to an impressive finish, but Feckenham rallied and Ben Welsh’s drive stung the hands of the visiting keeper before they did draw level when Jake Donnelly’s long throw into the box caused a scramble and Danny Murphy reacted quickest to prod home his fifth goal of the campaign.
The visitors continued to keep possession and, with their second shot on target, were gifted the lead just before the break when a lapse in concentration saw a quick free kick capitalised on as Northfield worked the ball right to left before a drilled cross was converted on the stretch by former Millers forward Adam Garmson.
The hosts were rejuvenated after the break following a change of formation and man of the match Jack Brimmell came within a whisker of making it 2-2 when he fired just wide after a jinking run.
Parity was restored when a neat passing move saw the ball worked into Connor Perry-Holmes who found himself in space and from close range the forward fired a low strike beyond the goalkeeper.
Efforts from Brimmell and Welsh and a Jordan Adams header all came close to putting the Millers ahead but the fifth and decisive goal went the visitors’ way when the Town forward raced clear and composed himself well before finishing low past the onrushing Josh Goddard.
With 72 minutes on the clock, both teams went down to ten men as an incident involving Perry-Holmes and a visiting midfielder eventually resulted in Perry-Holmes receiving his second yellow and the Northfield man receiving a straight red card.
Next up for the Millers is the visit of Division Three leaders GNP Sports to the Entaco on Saturday, which has been declared Non-League Day. The Les James Challenge Cup tie kicks off at 3pm.
Feckenham joint assistant manager Tom Davies said: “It was a disappointing result and performance, especially first half considering the group’s ability and recent performance against Smithswood.
“In the second half we looked sharper and created the better of the chances, just failing at the final hurdle. We take nothing away from Northfield who are a side in good form and looked full value for that, taking chances when they created them.
“From our prospective though, it was disappointing not to get a positive result and to start so slowly. A tough fixture in the cup against GNP awaits us and it’s a chance for some players to grasp an opportunity they’ve been waiting for.”
Meanwhile, the Millers have been drawn to host Inkberrow in the Worcestershire Junior Urn quarter-finals on November 25. Blackwood’s men will be hoping to avenge last season’s cup defeat at the hands of the Berrow.
