CITY squandered a two-goal lead in the Black Country where hosts Sporting Khalsa netted their winner deep in added time.

But with the match between promotion rivals Sutton Coldfield Town and Walsall Wood being postponed, it means Chris Cornes side remain in the play-off places going into November.

The visitors started brightly with Jordan Lymn drilling an effort just wide before a fine challenge from Khalsa skipper Tesfa Robinson denied Felix Miles just as he was about to shoot.

The home side offered little in the early stages other than a long-range effort that hardly tested the City keeper. In contrast, the visitors continued to press with Taylor Townsend having an effort turned away for a corner just before the half-hour.

And it was Townsend who made the breakthrough on 33 minutes, latching onto a through ball before steering his shot beyond Brandon Ganley in the Khalsa goal.

Zach Guinan had an effort deflected for a corner and Charlie Wise failed to make the most of a close-range header before Ganley pulled off an excellent save to deny Miles’s fierce drive from just outside the area.

City doubled their lead with a peach of a goal from Kyle Belmonte who lobbed Ganley from inside his own half two minutes before the interval but the celebrations were cut short when Todd Ferrier  headed the hosts back into contention moments later.

Worcester failed to repeat their first half domination and it took more than half-an-hour until they threatened the home goal in earnest, Miles finally being denied by the Khalsa keeper after a period of pressure.

The hosts, who went into the game two places and two points ahead of their visitors, were back on level terms in the 80th minute when substitute Jayden Campbell struck from just outside the box.

Both sides continued to push for a winner with Campbell going close for the hosts and Dylan Hart putting an effort over the target at the other end following a good run and cross from Townsend.

It looked as though the points would be shared but then, two minutes into added time, fellow substitute Simeon Cobourne broke free from his marker and slotted past Haydn Whitcombe for the winner.

City are back in action on Saturday when they head to a Rugby Town side who have not won since August and who have conceded nine goals in their last three league matches.