WORCESTERSHIRE under 18s completed their Midland Youth Football Championship campaign with a 3-2 defeat at Staffordshire.

Played at Walsall Wood, the County teenagers were beaten by a last-gasp header from Josh Brown.

It means Worcestershire have won just one of their seven matches this season and finish bottom of the table.

The hosts, boasting an unbeaten record, started brightly and took the lead in the fourth minute when Brown scored with a clinical finish.

The writing certainly looked on the wall for the visitors but they slowly began to become more assertive.

Worcestershire played the more fluent football and had long periods of possession, restricting their opponents to counter attacks.

It was no surprise when the visitors equalised in the 18th minute, player-of-the-season Paul Hurrell heading home from a Jack Cullity free-kick.

Worcestershire continued to assert more pressure and were unlucky when a volley from Ben Hayes just dipped over the bar.

Staffordshire were restricted to set-plays, from which they regained the lead against the run of play on 34 minutes.

A free-kick from the left by Jack Sherratt was floated into the penalty-area and Cliff Moyo leapt unchallenged to head home.

Another volley, this time from Allard, saw Worcestershire go close again but they trailed at half-time.

Both teams made changes at the break but the home side seemed to step up a gear, although chances were limited.

Sherratt fired wide for the hosts and Matthew Burnett headed just over.

Staffordshire had much the better of the exchanges in the second-half with their opposition rarely troubling the keeper.

However, players began to tire and Worcestershire gained a second wind to launch a foray of attacks in the final 10 minutes.

The visitors were rewarded for their efforts with just three minutes left.

Chris Smith used his pace to chase down what seemed a hopeless cause, eventually robbing his opponent of the ball on the by-line.

He then rounded the defender and squared the ball into the path of Daniel Pitt who slotted home calmly from 10 yards.

A draw would have been a fitting result to a well-fought encounter but the hosts struck in injury-time.

A cross from the right went unchallenged and Brown looped a header home.