JOINT-manager John Snape lamented the poor decisions that proved costly in Worcester City’s second 2-1 defeat to Highgate United in the space of eight days.

In similar fashion to their FA Vase exit the previous Saturday, City found themselves two goals down and chasing the game after Aaron Brown capitalised on a defensive error before Scott Turner headed home a second before the break.

Dave Reynolds pulled back a late goal but could not prevent Worcester from falling to a third Midland League Premier Division defeat of the season.

“I don’t blame the pitch, the referee or anybody else,” said Snape. “The desire they showed to see out the game out was better than ours.

“The first goal was a gift when there was no quality in the game. It was a mistake and it happens.

“Highgate wanted it a bit more and that’s something that hurts me with the side we put out as we do have the quality but goals change games and can give you that incentive.

“I saw a lot of fight in the second half and a much-improved performance. It was down to players and the decisions we made, I think we were guilty of making the wrong ones which cost us both goals.”

Goalkeeper Matt Gwynne had a busy afternoon and was first called into action after a free-kick bounced around the box before falling nicely for Josh Hawker to bring out the best from the former Westfields man.

But Gwynne was partly to blame for the opener on 17 minutes when a miscommunication with Wayne Thomas allowed Brown to slot home.

Ex-City striker Marco Adaggio almost made it two moments later but he was denied by a smart save.

Snape’s side felt they should have had a penalty midway through the first half after George Forsyth’s powerful effort looked to have been blocked by Duane Courtney’s arm but referee Kieran Dolphin waved away the appeal.

Nathan Hayward was next to go close for the visitors, powerfully striking wide after Mark Danks’s free-kick had dropped kindly for the stand-in skipper.

Highgate doubled their lead two minutes before the break with Turner heading home a corner at the near post and the hosts dominated the second-half chances.

Hawker saw his fierce effort fly just wide before Adaggio missed the target after being played one-on-one with Gwynne.

Brown almost put to bed any hope of a City fightback with 10 minutes remaining as his sweetly hit free-kick beat everybody but crashed against the post.

Snape’s side clung on and substitute James Baldwin connected with a Josh Sarmento cross only to see his effort saved.

As the clock struck 90, a well-worked move resulted in Reynolds tapping home from close range.

Baldwin then broke and kept his footing despite being clipped en route to goal but the ball deflected out wide, allowing the covering defenders to clear.

“I think with the weather changing, how the pitches are and the places we are going to means we have to play the pitches better,” added Snape. “Highgate knew how to play their home surface better than we did.”

City: Gwynne, Lewis (M Smith, 74), Weir, Stoddart, Thomas, N Hayward, Sarmento, Forsyth, Hughes (Reynolds, h-t), Danks (Baldwin, 69), Tomkinson. Unused subs: Dayus, O’Donnell.

Highgate: Catlow, Courtney, Pulisciano, Edwards, Turner, A Brown, Currithers (Robins, 49), Hawker, Adaggio, Rickards (L Brown, 70), Mooney. Unused subs: Bryan, Wilcock, B Hayward.

Attendance: 180.

City star man: Josh Sarmento.