THREE goals in 22 first-half minutes proved too much of a mountain to climb for Worcester City as their play-off hopes were dealt another blow after a 4-3 defeat at home to Walsall Wood.

Wood were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Kevin Monterio, Kaden May and Phil Mckerdy.

First-half substitute Archie Muirhead pulled one back with 73 minutes on the clock but the three goal advantage was quickly resorted when Jai Verma prodded past Adam Harrison.

City scored two goals late on through Jamie Smith's free-kick and Cameron Monteith's close-range finish but it was too little too late as City lost their fourth Midland Football League Premier Division in five games.

The suspension to Aaron Roberts meant Ben Tilbury had to deputise at centre-half with Fortune Maphosa and both had their hands full in the first-half as Walsall caused many a problem for Worcester.

The opener came when a cleared free-kick found May on the edge of the box and his driven shot was prodded into the net by Monterio to make it 1-0.

Bailey Fuller came close to an equaliser but Wood got their second just five minutes later as they failed to clear another free-kick and Jai Verma chipped a cross to May at the back post and the striker could not miss from four yards out.

The hosts were struggling to contain their visitors and just before the break, Walsall got a third.

It was again more indecisive defending as another Wood corner was not dealt with properly and Stuart Hendrie's cross was headed back to Phil Mckerdy who guided the ball past Harrison.

City's misery was compounded on the stroke of half-time as Sam Whitton was helped off the field after a heavy challenge and Bailey Fuller also failed to return after the break following an earlier robust tackle.

Archie Muirhead, Chinedu Osadebe and Cameron Monteith came on and things improved for the hosts and Muirhead pulled one back for Worcester with 73 minutes played when he finished from the edge of the box after Reiss Taylor-Randle chipped through ball.

Verma added a fourth almost instantly afterwards but with time ticking over the 90, City added two quick goals.

Muirhead crossed to Monteith, who finished from close range and when Smith's free-kick found the back of the net, an unlikely point looked possible but in the end it was too little too late.