WORCESTER City were narrowly beaten by League One newcomers Cheltenham Town in their opening pre-season friendly at a sun-baked St George's Lane on Saturday.

But the game was marred by the sending-off of Des Lyttle midway through the first-half after a Zinedine Zidane-like moment of madness.

Lyttle was dismissed for appearing to headbutt Cheltenham striker Steven Gillespie following a tackle.

He now faces a suspension at the start of City's Nationwide North campaign.

City started the game with new signing Craig Wilding partnering Adam Webster in attack and Nick Colley performing the problem right-wing role.

It was Cheltenham, however, who had the better of the opening stages, although their first three opportunities came from free-kicks around the edge of the penalty area.

The closest they came was when Brian Wilson's effort went just wide of goalkeeper Danny McDonnell's right-hand post.

Following Lyttle's dismissal, the game became a war of attrition with Cheltenham enjoying the majority of the possession as expected.

But City -- to their credit -- were well organised, particularly in defence, after changing their shape from 5-3-2 to 4-4-1.

The home side's only chance in the first-half came when Tom Warmer's left-footed shot was easily saved by former City 'keeper Shane Higgs.

Cheltenham might have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time but Ashley Vincent's overhead kick bounced back off the crossbar.

The second-half saw both sides make a series of substitutions, although City continued to compete well against their higher-graded opponents.

Cheltenham created one or two half-chances of their own, but goalkeeper McDonnell made a good save to deny Michael Wylde.

Just when it seemed the game would end 0-0, Sam Foley's shot deflected off former Hereford United forward Steve Guinan and looped over McDonnell with just four minutes left to give the Robins victory.

That was harsh on a City side who featured trialists Adam Wooton, Tom Birch and midfielder Danny Scheppel in the second-half.

Former Birmingham City youngster Scheppel is back at Worcester after spells with the likes of Moor Green, Bromsgrove Rovers, Redditch United and Hednesford Town.

City: McDonnell, Colley (Scheppel 69), Burley (Wooton 69), Smith (Birch 73), Pearce (Khan 46), Lyttle, Stanley (Walker 46), Warmer (Hodnett 46), Wilding (Preece 60), Webster (Wood 46), Clegg (Watkins 69).

Attendance: 601.