PERHAPS it was fate that Worcester City would endure a night to forget at Littleton. 

Physio and kitman Leigh Woodall, in possession of City’s away attire and training balls, was delayed en route to their 2-0 Polymac Packaging League Cup defeat at Five Acres.

In the end, it all got sorted just in time for Worcester to change back out of the kit borrowed from their hosts, prompting a few chuckles on a night of precious little joy on the pitch.

Only Brad Birch and Hamilton Chiwara retained their places from Saturday’s 8-0 win over Quorn as joint-bosses John Snape and Lee Hughes ran the rule over fringe and youth players.

Winger Alex Tomkinson made his debut after signing from Coventry Sphinx while striker Charlie Anagho-Ntamark, seeking game-time after a recent spell with Romulus, was given a first chance to impress.

City defender Tom Fishwick had a fourth-minute header cleared off the line by Brett Fellows but from there Littleton imposed themselves with the lively Fellows proving difficult to handle.

Leading marksman Dan Carter lobbed narrowly off target with Tom Palmer caught in no-man’s land midway through the first half.

But the keeper did well to push over a goal-bound cross from Dale Edwards seconds before the interval.

A dull second half was lit up by Carter’s second attempt at a lob with his quickly-taken 25-yard effort sailing into Palmer’s top left corner on 62 minutes.

Worcester kept plugging away with substitute Aaron Brett adding impetus but the game was up when Robbie Agar rolled into Mike Wright to prod past the advancing Palmer two minutes from time.

It left Hughes scratching his head over City’s support cast, many of whom missed their opportunity to shine.

“The kit gives us no excuses. We still have to have our minds focused on the start of the game,” said Hughes.

“It was disappointing. We want to try to go as far as possible in every cup and this was an opportunity to see whether different players could push their way into the first team.

“The young lads worked hard, Ryan Mole at left-back in particular, there were a few positives but overall we were unhappy to lose and everyone should be hurting.

“It was Littleton’s cup final and they seemed to want it more than us.

"I don’t know why, maybe the players have got used to Bromsgrove and the bobbly pitch did not help but you have to play the conditions.

“James Baldwin was a great example. His impact when he comes on as a substitute is unbelievable but when you start him he doesn’t seem on the pace.

“We know he has the ability to play a lot higher so it is frustrating. He has everything and you just want to give him a kick up the backside now and again.

“I love him as a bloke and I think he understands, he is a great player but needs that bit more desire to start games.”

City: Palmer, Chiwara, Mole, Fishwick, Yeomans, Birch, Evans, Baldwin, Anagho-Ntamark (Hayward, 57), Harris-James (Brett, 65), Tomkinson (Keasey, 77). Unused subs: Elmes, Allen.

Littleton: Hartop, Palmer, M Edwards, Fitter, Clarke (Grubb, 65), Fellows (Agar, 67), Adams, Jones, Carter, Wright, D Edwards (Xavier, 84). Unused subs: Ingram, Roach.

Attendance: 178.