IT was a moment Ethan Ross will be having nightmares about and Worcester City hope will not come back to haunt them.

With only a couple of minutes left of added-time, the young goalkeeper gifted visitors Corby Town a dramatic 2-1 victory when he fumbled Kalern Thomas’ hopeful cross into his own net.

It was a sickening setback for Ross and a body blow for City, who threatened to win the match after Shaun Donnellan levelled with a stunning strike on 85 minutes.

But, while this defeat will be hard to take, one look at their lowly league position will hurt even more.

On Boxing Day, the Blue and Whites climbed to 14th in Vanarama National League North after beating Gloucester City 1-0 at Whaddon Road.

But, instead of kicking on, City have gone backwards as they have taken just one point from three winnable home games to leave them level on points with third-from-bottom Corby.

It is clear 18th-placed Worcester have been hampered by injuries and suspensions and once again they were without three of their most influential players.

Forward Lee Hughes and centre-half Wayne Thomas were both ruled out through injury, while experienced keeper Nathan Vaughan was banned.

City were boosted by the loan signings of Jordan Murphy and Amadou Bakayoko, though, and management duo Carl Heeley and Matt Gardiner were optimistic the Walsall attackers would fire them to victory.

But, apart from a few nice touches from Bakayoko and some mazy runs from Murphy, neither could penetrate the away side’s defence.

Corby did not look like scoring either in an error-strewn opening period but on the stroke of half-time they somehow squeezed the ball home when Ross flapped at Greg Mills’ corner and Duane Courtney headed in.

The goal also came shortly after Tristian Dunkley sustained a dislocated shoulder following a clash of heads with Sam Minihan, which saw the winger land awkwardly.

But it was his replacement Daniel Nti, who injected some life into City’s play as they began the second half with more purpose.

Without Hughes, though, Worcester struggled to put the ball away as Bakayoko, Danny Jackman and Nti all failed to hit the target before Tyler Weir struck the base of the post with an acrobatic effort.

One of City’s highlights in recent weeks has been the emergence of Donnellan, whose striding runs out of defence have been a sight to behold.

And it was a piece of brilliance from the 19-year-old West Bromwich Albion loanee that levelled the tie as he curled the ball home with the outside of his boot from 20 yards out.

Belief filled an excitable Aggborough crowd as Minihan forced a great save from Sam Donkin with a thumping effort late on.

But delirium then turned into disbelief among the home fans when Ross produced his howler at the death - and left City with that sinking feeling.