WORCESTER City began 2012 with defeat as their six-match unbeaten run came to an end in a thrilling contest at Whaddon Road today.

Darren Edwards put Gloucester two goals up inside 22 minutes and, despite Mike Symons halving the deficit before the interval, Will Morford added a third on the break to get revenge for the Tigers’ Boxing Day loss at St George’s Lane.

Worcester played well in spells but paid the price for defensive errors in the first-half as they missed out on the chance to climb into the Blue Square Bet North play-off places. They were also guilty of wasting set-pieces and failed to trouble keeper Lewis Carey from seven corners during the first period.

It was from the last of three successive flag-kicks that they ended up falling behind with just 15 minutes on the clock.

Matt Lock’s routine cross into the box was inexplicably dropped by the usually reliable James Dormand and Edwards lashed the loose ball home, despite the frantic efforts of the defence to clear.

Another sloppy effort allowed the Tigers to double their advantage seven minutes later against the rattled visitors.

Worcester lost possession, Morford’s cross was flicked on at the near post by Adam Mann and, with Dormand scrambling to get across his goal, Edwards had a simple tap-in.

Gloucester sought a third and it needed Dormand to block with his feet to turn away Mann’s low drive in the 31st minute.

Despite their frailties, however, the visitors carried a threat going forward, not least in the form of ex-Gloucester striker Symons.

From one of several good passing moves, they forced themselves back into the contest nine minutes before half-time.

Neil Cartwright rolled a free-kick to Tom Thorley on the left edge of the area and his whipped cross was met by the head of Symons for his 13th goal of the season.

With their heads up, City fancied equalising before the interval and would have done so but for Carey’s save to deny Matt Birley’s fierce strike from just inside the box.

City’s momentum carried over into the second period but Simon Brown contrived to plant a free header over the crossbar from Cartwright’s cross. Heeley threw on former Gloucester player Lee Smith and Michael Taylor for Birley and Brown in a bid to force the issue.

Within seconds, Taylor just failed to turn the ball home after Carey had spilled Cartwright’s long-range drive.

Both sides surged forward seeking to add to their tally but the visitors increased their lead on the break.

Straight from a Worcester corner, Dave Mehew’s men counter-attacked and Morford carried the ball to the edge of the area before cracking a shot under the dive of Dormand.

Centre-half Lee Ayres made way for Danny Carey-Bertram as Worcester went for broke and they came agonisingly close to pulling a goal back when Danny Edwards danced into the area before firing inches wide.

But they became increasingly frustrated as the Tigers toyed with them in the closing stages and Cartwright and Ryan Clarke were both booked for late challenges.