WORCESTER City’s impressive eight-match unbeaten league run came to an end as Midlands rivals Tamworth extended their own impressive run.

A close-range 71st-minute effort from home skipper Paul Green handed City their first Conference North defeat since September 20.

But it was enough to make it seven straight league wins for the Staffordshire side.

A lacklustre opening period produced little to excite the Lambs crowd.

The home side settled the quicker and, on 16 minutes, a left-wing cross from Connor Taylor had to be headed clear by Tyler Weir with Tamworth player-manager Andy Morrell lurking in the area.

The ball was worked back into the area and Javan Vidal skipped through a couple of challenges before losing control of the ball which was cleared to safety.

A minute later, Lambs keeper James Belshaw gathered the ball after some good work from Daniel Nti.

The first shot of the game came on 23 minutes when Morrell’s effort struck team-mate Dave Hibbert before bouncing just wide of the Worcester goal.

At the other end, Wayne Thomas, playing against his former side, headed wide after latching on to Ellis Deeney’s free-kick and Mike Symons was denied by a low save soon after.

The remainder of the half produced nothing to cheer the 810 fans but, after such a dismal opening half, the second period got off to a dazzling start thanks to the introduction of Tamworth substitute Brendon Daniels.

He skied an effort over the target inside a minute and then drilled straight at keeper Jose Veiga, starting in place of Nathan Vaughan.

The City defence was struggling to cope with the new addition and he created another chance five minutes into the half with a left-wing cross which Hibbert just failed to divert into the net.

Moments later, Tamworth won the first corner when Hibbert got on the end of Green’s cross but the effort was diverted behind by the excellent Jacob Rowe.

Sean Geddes tried his luck for the visitors with a shot but this was a rare passage of play in the home half.

Tamworth’s pressure finally told when a low free-kick into the area from Daniels was stabbed home by Green from close range.

City manager Carl Heeley responded by sending on Nick Wright, Tristan Dunkley and Dean Waldron in quick succession and the visitors went close to snatching a last-gasp equaliser.

With five minutes left, a Geddes corner picked out Thomas but his header was diverted over by Green.

Then, deep into injury time, Geddes whipped in a free-kick that flew agonisingly wide of the far post when the slightest touch would have steered it past Belshaw.