WORCESTER City suffered only their second Vanarama Conference North home defeat of the season tonight as rivals Solihull Moors triumphed 4-1 at Aggborough.

The Blue and Whites, aiming for a third straight league victory, conceded two goals inside three first-half minutes and fell further behind after the break to Wayne Thomas’ own goal.

Despite substitute Aaron Brown giving them brief hope after the moment of misfortune, when City were enjoying their best spell, the visitors wrapped up victory with Omar Bogle’s deflected 80th-minute free-kick.

Carl Heeley restored striker Daniel Nti, who missed Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Stockport County with a leg injury, to the starting line-up but Mike Symons was not in the squad and they struggled without his physical presence up front.

City made a positive start and in the 13th minute Shabir Khan’s pass was chested down by Nti into the path of Sean Geddes, who smacked his half-volley over the bar.

Seconds later, Stefan Moore sprung the City offside trap and got past Thomas but was denied by keeper Ryan Boot.

With their second shot on target, Solihull broke the deadlock. A long throw from Dominic Langdon was met by the head of captain Ellis Deeney but his clearance only went as far as Darryl Knights, who swept the loose ball in from a tight angle.

Three minutes later, Bogle was allowed to play a one-two with Moore down the Worcester left before sending a shot beyond Boot.

The hosts were making it easy for Solihull but Tristian Dunkley fired over at the other end from Kyle Haynes’ cut-back.

Worcester did plenty of probing at the start of the second-half but the end product was lacking.

Nti had their first shot on target in the 50th minute and then headed over from Dunkley’s cross.

Moments later, Dunkley weaved his way forward and dragged a shot wide.

Solihull, who had former City players Rob Elvins, Richard Taundry and Jay Deeney in their ranks, were forced on to the back foot but moved 3-0 ahead with a huge slice of luck.

Thomas intercepted a ball forward from Bogle but, in trying to stop it reaching substitute Owen Story, inadvertently turned it past the advancing Boot.

City responded by bringing on Brown and seven minutes later he gambled on Nti’s looping shot, which looked to be going over, and nodded home at the far post.

But Bogle’s free-kick deflected off the wall and went in off the bar 10 minutes from time.

City: Boot 6, Haynes 6, Shabir 6 (Jackman 71), Rowe 6, Thomas 6, Waldron 6 (Brown 67, 7), Evans 6 (Wright 74), Deeney 6, Nti 7*, Geddes 6, Dunkley 6. Subs not used: Lynch, Veiga.

Attendance: 409.