WORCESTER City were made to pay for missing a host of opportunities as Bradford Park Avenue inflicted a rare Aggborough defeat.

Chib Chilaka’s headed goal 12 minutes from time gave the Yorkshire visitors victory and left the Blue and Whites with plenty to ponder.

It was only their second league loss at home since last February and one of their most frustrating defeats of the season.

Despite creating a hatful of chances, City could not find a way past former Kidderminster Harriers keeper John Danby and are now without a goal in four matches — not including the Hednesford abandonment.

The hosts gave a debut to right-back Kyle Haynes, who signed from Stourbridge on Saturday, but saw left-back Tyler Weir hobble off in the second-half.

Carl Heeley’s side could have been comfortably ahead at half-time but instead were left to rue their profligacy.

Time and again they had Bradford, struggling in the bottom three, back-pedalling with some neat play, without being able to find the finishing touch.

It was a similar story after the break.

City came close to taking the lead during a frantic passage of play in the 13th minute. Mike Symons did well to turn Dan Gray on the byline and muscle his way into the box before pinging in a cross which somehow evaded everyone in blue and white.

Captain Ellis Deeney then drilled the loose ball goalwards and his deflected effort was spilled against the post by Danby, with the keeper gratefully gathering the ball at the second attempt.

Seconds later, a tidy piece of build-up play saw the ball come to Danny Jackman and his drive smacked the post.

City continued to create the better openings but they weren’t hugely convincing as a defensive unit when put under pressure by the visitors.

Bradford’s best moment came five minutes before the break when Chilaka’s stinging drive was blocked on the line by Haynes. The ball ran loose in the six-yard box and chaos ensued as players piled in, resulting in bookings for Nathan Vaughan and Bradford’s Danny Frost.

Another chance went begging for Worcester in the closing stages of the half with Jackman picking out Jordan Murphy who turned and hit his effort at Danby.

The hosts continued to call the shots after the interval but could not find a way past Danby.

But, 12 minutes from time, City were made to pay. An excellent left-wing cross from substitute Steve Boothman found Chilaka and he planted a firm header beyond Vaughan.

City brought on Tristan Dunkley and used Wayne Thomas as a striker as they pressed for an equaliser but a deflected effort wide from the centre-half was the closest they came.